Miscellaneous: Hot Button

What do you think of this?

Men: Scott Herman

Absolutely couldn't resist. He isn't cute in the face to me, but the bod is so rockin' I...I'm speechless.

Name: Scott Edward Herman
Best Known For: Model, TV Show The Real World
Year of Birth: 1984
Status: Single
Height: 5'10"
Fun Fact: BA in Business

Chocolate: Macadamia Islands

We had a box of Mauna Loa Macadamia Islands milk chocolate covered macadamia nuts left over from our trip. I'm shocked that they were still edible. It was a nice sweet (trying to deal with the flip flop from dark to milk) bite. On a scale of 1 to 10 where 10 is the best nut to put in chocolate, I rate macadamia at a 5. It's okay, but really not my first pick. At least the chocolate didn't have the after taste I get with Hershey.

Have you had your sweet treat today?

Books: Big Book of Everything

If you don't already know, I have children. So of course I was a victim of Adult-watching-children's TV Syndrome. There were several years in which I was forced to watch television directed at 3 to 8 year olds. One such show was Stanley. I wish I could tell you when it comes on Disney or if it even airs anymore, but the kiddos are a little too old to watch.

Anyway the kid had a Big Book of Everything in which he collected photos and information about the animal kingdom. When the oldest was younger we made our own book. Paper bag covered binder, construction paper, colored paper, magazine and computer printed pictures. It was too cute and super informative. The kids learned so much by making this book themselves. They still pull the book down and read the pages.

I'm somewhat brain dead right now, but when I collect my wits I will post a picture of their book. Right now I'm just trying to catch up with my blog posts! Oh, and then I'll think about how we can turn this into some new summer projects :o)

TV: Sneek Peeks

If there's one thing I like from E!Online it's "Watch With Kristin." She finds out all the little goodies about TV shows. So here's the scoop...

BTW, I'm posting this a little early because there's no sense in seeing the sneek peeks after they've aired. That means my posts are going out of order and will be back on track after this cycle. (I had to decide which would irk me more ;) )

UPDATE: Not on E!Online, but I've heard that Medium wasn't renewed by NBC :( However it seems to have been picked up by CBS :)

Miscellaneous: Gotcha!

The radio station I listen to has a feature in which they try to trap someone into admitting infidelity. Let me make this more clear. For example, a man calls the station and says he believes his girlfriend/wife is cheating. The host calls the unsuspecting girlfriend/wife while the man is on the phone and offers some kind of service. The girlfriend/wife is supposed to take the bait so the man can prove to the world that the girlfriend/wife is cheating.

Hmmmm. I don't know what to say. For many of the couples, a simple conversation would have sufficed. I would think it's embarrassing for the caller to find out the significant other chooses to send the fake item (that's usually how the station approaches the "cheater") to the caller. More than embarrassing, any trust that was in the relationship before is gone.

For other couples, I don't understand the need to confront the cheater through the show. I'm sure the intent is to shame the cheater, but the caller ends up looking like an idiot for calling the show to solve the problem. I think we're supposed to feel happy that the cheaters get caught. I just feel pity for the caller.

Of course, I could put my own head in the sand for listening. Hey, it's only a 5 minute part of my 15 minute drive to work. It isn't worth changing the channel. And I could probably devote my posts to more worthwhile irritants, like an online dating service that's specifically for adulterers.

Men: James Blake

Name: James Riley Blake
Best Known For: American tennis player*
Year of Birth: 1979
Status: Single
Height: 6'1"
Fun Fact: Overcame severe scoliosis

I don't watch tennis, but I could start. What a hunk! There aren't many pictures of him without the tennis gear, but my imagination can fill in the holes quite nicely. There are a few pictures out there of him with dreads. I have to say I love the more bald head he has in this photo.

*As of this posting, second highest ranked American, 17th in the world

Chocolate: Fountain

Where is my head? I forgot about what I was posting and when. Mostly because this is the worst time of the year for my job. Too busy. So I really enjoyed the Mother's Day tea I attended. Clotted cream, cucumber sandwiches, and a variety of very tasty teas. Amongst the other foods was a chocolate fountain. I have several things I want to say about the fountain.

1. It is so cool! A mini waterfall of chocolate for dipping. I could have stuffed myself silly on the marshmallows and... well pretty much just the marshmallows.

2. That was a pro, this is a con. There is wasted chocolate when the fountainy goodness is over. While the bulk of the chocolate is fine, there is enough chocolate still left on the machinery to cause me dismay.

3. Here's a pro/con. I've really turned to the dark side. I only like semi-sweet on my marshmallows. This fountian had milk chocolate - Trader Joe's Belgian - and I still thought it was too sweet. Can you imagine?

There's my 2 cents.

Books: Helen Lester

Helen Lester writes a wonderful set of children's books that teach kids lessons about behavior. I haven't read all of her books, but the ones that I have are delightful. Her Wiki lists 21 of her works.

The Wizard, the Fairy and the Magic Chicken is a cute book about working together and friendship. Listen Buddy tells of a bunny's consequences for not listening. Hooway for Wodney Wat teaches a lesson about differences. Me First shows how being the first at everything isn't always so great. The final Lester book I own is Princess Penelope's Parrot which shows the exact opposite of how to win friends and influence people.

Lester's books are illustrated by Lynn Munsinger who is so prolific it is easy to spot a book of her artwork. Here is more info about the two of them.

TV: Stupid Reality Shows

When they first aired I watched Survivor, Big Brother, and Real World. On a boring day, I watched a marathon of America's Next Top Model. I like the first few and last few episodes of American Idol. Of course, I wouldn't miss an episode of The Biggest Loser. But there are some reality shows I would never watch and ended up doing so involuntarily. The producers (?) pick some of the strangest, ignorant, or controversial people for the shock factor and all it does is make me turn the channel.

On the matchmaking shows (Flavor of Love, Rock of Love, I Love New York, For the Love of Ray) the stereotypes are magnified to the 100th power. Not to mention the horrors of The Bachelor(ette), Momma's Boys, or elimiDATE. How can anyone choose to be in a long term relationship based on a few televised dates? Especially when you know they aren't being true to themselves.

The thought of watching rich people live their lives as in Britney & Kevin: Chaotic, Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica, Denise Richards: It's Complicated, Hogan Knows Best,etc. is frightening. Okay, sometimes you get curious. What do these people do all day when I'm working the 9 to 5? The answer can be summed up in a one hour special not a series.

I'll be honest. I have caught an episode of some of the shows I listed above (Not all mind you. So if you defend them keep in mind that I may not have really 'understood' the show because I haven't seen it.) But there are some I won't even attempt to watch. Wife Swap and Baby Borrowers are two. Words simply can't describe my thoughts.

Here's a link to American Reality Shows, some of which I really enjoy. More about that another time.

Miscellaneous: Geek

A nerd refers to a person who passionately pursues intellectual activities, esoteric knowledge, or other obscure interests rather than engaging in more social or popular activities. Therefore, a nerd is often excluded from physical activity and considered a loner by peers, or will tend to associate with like-minded people.{Wiki}

A geek referes to a peculiar or otherwise odd person, especially one who is perceived to be overly obsessed with one or more things including those of intellectuality, electronics, etc.{Wiki}

Why am I focusing on definitions of terms we used in high school? Someone called me a geek. At first I was offended. The exact sentence was "We're geeks" which included me along with him. I don't really think of myself as being like him at all really. In fact, I asked B who agreed that I'm quite into technology (way more so than my co-workers) and thus fit the definition of a geek. And the someone said it was a term of endearment, praise if you will. So I'm a reluctant geek.

B has this remote. It's loaded with buttons, hooks up with everything, and has a charger so the batteries don't go dead. It's a Harmony 720 by Logitech. A universal remote. The man tool.

I would love to get into the details of how men tend to be attached to their remotes, but I have this problem. If I'm such a geek, why can't I figure out how to used the &^%$ thing?

Ashes

Little known fact about me. I've never been to a funeral. My first memorial service was in the last couple years. So what's your point? You ask. I have the unfortunate task of attending one this weekend for a coworker and friend. I can't describe my feelings on the whole matter. I feel scared about not doing the right thing. How am I supposed to act? What am I supposed to say? What if I don't cry? At the same time I'm incredibly sad. Someone this close to me isn't supposed to pass away. Someone who isn't supposed to go from working down the hall from me to gone in less time than it takes to create a life.

Lastly, I feel overwhelmed. Who around me is going to be next? What happens when it's a mother, father, sister, or...? What will happen when it's my turn? Will I know it's coming? Would I want to know?

Rest in peace, dear friend.