ooops...

Operator error (me) accidentally posted a story segment that wasn't supposed to get posted. It was supposed to print tomorrow. SORRY.

Wait for the other post to... um.... post. if you've got something like Google Reader.

I'll be more careful in the future.

Blogger...

It was an interesting thing to have Blogger tell me that my blog was 'read only'. At least for a little while.

According to Blogger Buzz and the Blogger Status feed, the situation was created by an update problem. I've had that happen on my own computer -- but I was a little worried. 


I lost two, possibly three, blog posts. And I'd been doing so good on reading posts from my blogger friends. LOL (It's all about me, don'tcha know.)

 When the Blogger techs restored their systems back to the 11th, essentially pre-dating the problem, two of my posts were put back in "schedule" mode.

I lost comments. That is really just so you know that I didn't delete any comments. They've gone missing.

I posted the scheduled blogs again- and they've written that blogger will repost the comments. 

I'm curious to see if I end up with Double postings because of this. I tend to jump the gun on things...so I'm waiting to post the next story segment until I see what happens to my blog. 


On the silver lining part of the cloud - I'm getting ahead again. I kind of got stuck (see: fixated) on this one section. I deleted part of it twice. 


Still, what a funny thing to have happen on Friday 13th. It is, she said randomly, one of my favorite days. Always has been.


Because of the malfunction, I've been thinking of random internet things....and trying to avoid reading this new book I got. If I start reading it - I'll never finish my story. Well - I will but it would take longer.


So in honor of the Blogger malfunction and my psuedo-facebook addiction:


I don't have twitter - but I have facebook and blogger. ^_^ Somethings we just gotta share. Like knowing the answers to the question of "Why, Blogger? Why?"

And now for some nonesense....

Gotta have some nonsense now and again....

You Are Unpretentious and Honest

You're quite happy with who you are, and you never pretend to be someone you're not. You just act naturally. It's what works best for you, and you're comfortable with who you are. You like people when they're just being themselves. Nothing turns you off more quickly than a phony. You don't like it when other people want you to measure up to their standards. You should be enough as is.

The Handbag Test

Blogthings: Take a Quiz. Annoy Your Friends.

You Are Emotional

You are dependable, popular, and observant. Deep and thoughtful, you are prone to moodiness. In fact, your emotions tend to influence everything you do. You are unique, creative, and expressive. You don't mind waving your freak flag every once and a while. And lucky for you, most people find your weird ways charming!

The World's Shortest Personality Test

Blogthings: Our Quizzes Weren't Written By Bored 12 Year Olds

You Act Like You Are 18 Years Old

You are a teenager at heart. You don't quite feel like a grown up yet, but you don't feel like a kid. You question authority and are still trying to find your place in this world. You're quite rebellious, and you don't like being told what to do. You like to do things your way. You have your own unique style, taste in music, and outlook on life.

What Age Do You Act?

Work is Hard. Time for Blogthings!

You Are a Sugar Glider

You are both cute and active. You are very curious about the world around you. People may find that you are a bit quirky and offbeat, but you are truly very intelligent. You are very social, and you bring a playful element to every occasion. You are easygoing and not at all aggressive. You only will act to defend yourself.

What Australian Animal Are You?

Blogthings: If Quizzes Are Outlawed, Only Outlaws Will Take Quizzes

Look alike??

It's okay to laugh. Really. I did.

http://www.myheritage.com/collage

So I was playing with this last night. I've tried three different pictures. Despite getting three different sets of answers... I'm just not finding a celebrity that looks like me.

It could be the extra weight on my face...it could be the angle of the pose.
Whatever... There's just not a celebrity that looks like me.

And I guess that's just fine. I'd say I was one of a kind - but I look like my brother. That's it!! He needs to become a celebrity...then my problems momentary blog entry issues would be solved!

J-man came along the lap top and said, "That doesn't look like you."
"That doesn't look like you."

Then he pointed at my picture..
"THAT looks like you."

Sweet talker.

Today is not the best of days...

I don't have anything blog worthy to write about.
This sums up the last few weeks -- except my birthday and my birthday gift, of course.




That t-shirt still makes me giggle.

A brief moment...

I'd like to take a moment from our regularly schedule Blogging (don't laugh)
to panic.

For just a moment.

I was driving along, minding my own business....

actually, I wasn't thinking about much at all. It was quiet in the car.
I was alone.
That's fun to say.

It was quiet in the car.
I was alone.

When SUDDENLY the thought came into my mind -- in 2 years --
2 very short years --

I will have an eldest child of 13 -- and a youngest child of 5.

I got rid of my baby stuff as fast as I could.
To get rid of stuff and make room - and the fact that we are done having babies - unless God should give us one. Which would be fine, by the way.

It still takes my breath away.
2 very short years.

sniff sniff.

Okay.
All done.

You may now return to your normal blogging schedule.

Geography...

Mini-Me JUST finished a short study about Australia. Her favorite critter is the Echidna and the platypus.

This song was brought to my memory by someone that has the same penchant I have for odd songs coming to her head...

Perfect wrap up for a study of Australia, I think.



Of Course, It could just be me.

All together now ....

Me in Mosaic

Okay, I realize I'm easily amused. I'm the first person to say so. I'm also the second. With several reminders. Today, since I had nothing better to do, I made this:

Isn't it pretty?? I really, really like it.

It's actually a meme that answers these questions:
1. What is your name? Amelia
2. What is your favorite food? Chocolate
3. What is your hometown? I won't tell you here -- but I will say they had to go way high to get a picture that good of the man made lake.
4. What is your favorite color? I don't have one. and this picture was perfect for it.
5. What is your favorite movie? Hunt for Red October
6. What is your favorite drink? -- such a sweet picture, too.
7. What is your dream vacation? - I've always wanted to go to New Zealand. While I'm there - I'll have to cross the continent to visit AppleLeaf.
8. What is your favorite dessert? Coconut Cream Pie
9. What is one word to describe yourself? Optimistic - get it?? Glass half full??
10. How are you feeling right now? Sunshine-y.
11. What do you love most in the world? Worshipping Jesus.
12. What do you want to be when you grow up? Worship leader. LOVED this picture.

So that's the meme - here are the directions for how to - I ignored the "tagging" part ---

DIRECTIONS:
- Go to Google image search.
- Type in your answer to each question below.
- Choose a picture from the first three pages.
- Save the URL links for all your images. You'll need these.
- Use this website (http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/mosaic.php) to make your collage.
- Save the image for use in this note
- Post and tag 10 people plus me.

So -- essentially I made a picture and am hanging it on my fridge blog.
Now I'll stand back and look.

Follow-Up Question

Okay. So I didn't notice until Cristina pointed it out.
If you'll look at the first interview - there was supposed to be a #21.
I didn't see that because I paid no attention to the numbers. Honestly, I am rather fond of the household Dad. So I didn't leave the question out of the interview on purpose.

I think the question must have gotten eaten on Facebook.

So I did the next best thing -
I went to her brilliant interview and copied #21.
I asked the follow up question this morning.

21. What does your mom like most about your dad?

Mini-Me: Everything. Most of the time.
G-Man: Everything. Well, I don't really know. Let me think about it. Because.....(interrupted by J-man)
J-man: He's funny and he likes to play video games and Kissing.

The interview returns back to G-man:
G-man: .......I forgot. Oh, yeah -- Because he's funny.

I'm saying nothing.

An interview with my kids....

I saw this interview over at Juggling Paynes' hangout. The answers her kids gave made me literally LOL. Then it started popping up on Facebook and I interrupted my school day to interview the kids.

It only made sense, really. I sent Mini-Me off to finish her Geography in the other room, hoping to get some unbiased answers. It didn't quite work out the way I'd hoped. But we got some evident personalities, anyway.

The task at hand: "Ask your children these questions and tell them not to hesitate and to give the answer that comes to the top of their head. Make sure to delete my answers."

Who are you giving the survey to name/age/gender:
in the order of questioning:
G-man - 8.5
Mini-Me 10.5
J-man - 4.5 (5 in April)
mini-E - Newly minted Age 3 - was sleeping. But here's a picture of her just in case you wanted to see it. Just 'cause I love ya.

1.What is something mom always says to you?
G = I love you
M = I love you
J = I super love you, I love you more

2. What makes mom happy?
G = Do not be disobedient
M = When I surprise her by doing her chores when she's putting Erica down for a nap
J = silly faces

3. What makes your mom sad?
G = When we hit her, and that's not very often (i'm really glad he included that in there)
M = When my brother's fight and hurt each other - it also makes her grumpy
J = Keep hitting my brother and not letting him fight boxing on the wii.

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
G = jokes
M = I don't know ... wait ... hold it... when she makes funny faces
J = tickles!!

5. What was your mom like as a child?
G = I don't know.
M - I don't know. My grandmother knows that stuff, not me.
J = She was like G-man (This made me laugh -- I made sure the Professor saw it, too.)

6. How old is your mom?
G = 35
M = 35
J = 35 - (but he had help from G. I was hoping for a 10 or 21 or something.)

7. How tall is your mom?
G = I. don't. know.
M = Short
J = 35

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
G = Do school work and play on the web
M -= Read
J = play a video game!

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
G = plays video games, or the web or talks to my dad
M = I don't know - I'm not around.
J = play a game

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
G = Trusting God
M = Singing
J = Playing the web

11. What is your mom really good at?
G = playing the web, reading books, muppets party cruise, doing school work
M = Laundry (she also said crocheting, but I'm not and made her change her answer.)
J = Typing and playing video games ( can you tell he has a one -track mind?) and playing with Daddy on the TV.

12. What is your mom not very good at?
G = Not getting calories - when she doesn't know what they have
M = Engineering. (She now has the giggles!!!)
J = Boxing

13. What does your mom do for her job?
G = Do Schoolwork
M = Housework. School work, too.
J = School work!

14. What is your mom's favorite food?
G = I have never really asked her
M = Goulash. but I don't like it.
J = A big salad!!
(I CAN'T believe they didn't say CHOCOLATE!!!!)

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
G = When she beats daddy at Muppets
M = Because I love her
J = Playing by myself with toys - and not hitting anybody and being like You. That makes my mom happy.

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
G = Gonzo on Muppets
M = Hobbes from Calvin & Hobbes
J = Gonzo!
(I can't believe they didn't say Kung Fu Panda!)

17. What do you and your mom do together?
G = School work and ride bikes
M = School work, snuggle on the couch, ride bikes
J = Play video games

18. How are you and your mom the same?
G = Our hair color
M = We both have a dislike of when the boys argue.
J = When you grow up

19. How are you and your mom different?
G = I have different eyes than her
M = She's Older
J = 'cause I am shorter

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
G = She says it all the time
M = I just know.
J = She tucks me in. (this made me melt. Awwwww)

22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
G = Sonic
M = Panera
J = Same thing Melody said.

23. What is your mom’s favorite movie?
G = Batman or Abbott and Costello
M = Psych
J = Psych (again, he copied M's answer, but wouldn't change his mind.)

24. What would be the perfect day for mom?
G = Do anything
M = Go on a date with Daddy
J = This day!

25. How does mom get money?
G = From my dad.
M = From Dad
J = Me!

26. Is there anything else you would like to say about mom?
G = She likes music
M = I love her. A lot.
J = Yes. I have a joke. How did the popcorn cross the river? With a tiny boat... and a bunch of dinosaurs that destroyed the boat and the popcorn went under water and saw a giant squid!!! ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

And that concluded my interview with the kids.
I think I'll eat popcorn before the squid gets it all.

Be careful what you say....

I've seen a slogan that I love. I'd love to get it on a t-shirt.

"Be careful what you say, it may remind me of a song that needs to be sung" (or something like that).

The problem is - I'm sure some one would use the slogan for evil. Today was a funny day. I'm not sure what was said that made me think of this song -- but something did...and I laughed.

This is the best sound quality I found ... the video is a bonus. Brisco County, Jr. I laughed. I actually liked that show.



So I'm amused.
I'm singing.

Hopefully, it won't get stuck in your head, too. But if it does, you're in good company. Comfy Company. :-)

Ninja Cat

Sometimes we see things that just make us laugh.
This cat makes me laugh every time.

It makes the kids laugh every time, too.

I don't know which is more fun - watching the cat or watching the kids watch the cat.

Ninja Cat:

Toy Packaging

Toy Packaging by Sara Groves

We're going to be putting Christmas toys together BEFORE the kids get them.
Why?
Toy packaging.
The tiny twist 'ems..
The many miles of tape...
The plastic...hard brittle..unbending plastic.

This song makes me laugh. I heard it on the radio and had to find a copy to share.
Being easily amused, I love the lights!!


Christmas Lights PBL - Sara Groves ~ Toy Packaging from robogeek on Vimeo.

I am a Kung-Fu Panda

Or maybe the working title should be: Panda-monium?

Kung-Fu Panda was a movie we wanted to see in the theater, but didn't. So when I saw it at the store for less that most of the $19.99 prices, I snagged it and took it home.

We instantly fell in love with it.

As a general rule, the Denim parents aren't into marital art movies. That's my brother's department. What we do like, however, is a good movie.

To me, Kung-fu Panda has it all. Good animation, good action, great plot, identifiable characters and humor.

For those who haven't seen it, let me give a summary. Po, a panda, works for his dad (a goose) in a noodle restaurant. To the dad, Noodles and food are life. Po, on the other hand, dreams of heroes, being a legendary warrior, and kung-fu.

He doesn't want to tell his dad that the "noodle dream" is not shared. We get the impression that Po doesn't think his own dreams are possible. He's clumsy and big. I found it curious that he's the only panda around.

To keep some suspense, I'll try to keep this short, in case you see the movie (or want me to hush).

Through interesting circumstances, Po is chosen to be the "Dragon Warrior". He is taken in to be trained by a red panda named Shifu (excellently voiced by Dustin Hoffman). Shifu has trained "The Furious Five": Mantis, Viper, Tigress, Crane, and Monkey. Po idealizes the Five. Come to find out, Shifu has also trained the bad guy, a snow leopard named Tai Lung.

Shifu and the Furious Five think that a giant mistake has been made in the selection of the clumsy Panda as "Dragon Warrior", by Master Oogway (a very old turtle). As a collective, Shifu and the Five make it a point to let him know. Shifu does everything in his power to discourage him and make him quit. Promising his other students that the panda would quit "or I have failed you all."

Po just doesn't fit in. He doesn't know Kung-fu. He is chided, by Tigress, for thinking that everything "is a joke." Mostly, he's misunderstood because he doesn't fit their picture of what the Dragon Warrior should be. The two biggest issues seem to be that he's clumsy and he's a panda.

In the end, we find out that being himself: good humored and a panda are what really bring him success in the final showdown with the bad guy.

I enjoy this movie. I enjoyed watching it with my kids and listening to them laugh. The animation is fantastic, the voice acting is really quite excellent. I'm a bit surprised at how little dialogue they gave Jackie Chan after all the advertising of him being cast as "Master Monkey" and I don't think voice acting is Jolie's strong suit. But really, those are small points against the movie. If you don't like martial art movies, you might not like this one, but you might be surprised.

There are two lessons to be learned in the movie. Or at least two lessons I can see and tell my kids. I might be the only one to see them. And that's okay.

The first lesson: Be Yourself.
Po, wanted to be "not himself" because he didn't see himself as having much worth. He was comparing himself to The Furious Five who had trained and trained and trained. Whereas, he had not. Po also didn't quite fit in with his dad's noodle dream.

The things that Shifu and the Five didn't like about him, were exactly what he needed to be and have, in order for the final showdown against the bad guy.

Po is given a "Dragon Scroll". The scroll is thought to contain powers that would enable the "Dragon Warrior" to be great. The Professor informed me that this is a nod to some other Kung Fu movies - but it works in this one, too.

Po opens the scroll and sees -- himself. Immediately, They all think it's blank. They think that Oogway really was crazy and mistaken to choose Po as the "Dragon Warrior"
Until his dad tells him the secret to his Secret ingredient soup. There is no secret ingredient.

Po realizes that all he has to do, to fight the bad guy, is to be himself.
At the end, Tai Lung tells Po: "You can't beat me, you're a big, fat panda!"
Po, embracing all that he is says, "Wrong. I'm THE. big. fat. panda."

All he had to do was be himself. This is much the same with God. Me for example...He gave me my quirks. My personality (like it or leave it). My desire to learn, to write.. He's put more desires in my heart - but I don't have to be like someone else in order to do these things. I don't have to be like others that have gone before me. And what's more, others should not expect me to be something I'm not.

To get the job done, I just need to be myself.

I really identify with Po.
I can be a klutz...
I eat when I'm stressed.
I don't fit the mold.
Who knew I was a panda?

Lesson #2 -- There is no secret ingredient. At least, it's not a secret.
There is a secret ingredient in me. But it's really not a secret. More like a partner...and that's Holy Spirit. Without Him, His presence, guidance, teachings, nudgings, I would not be who, what, where I am now.

So, while I talk about (and thoroughly enjoy) the movie's main theme, I have to point this out to the kids. We have to have Holy Spirit in us.

Being ourselves combined with the power and direction of Holy Spirit gives us such potential. We offer what we are and what we have to God and we are capable of fighting the scariest of snow leopards - or whatever else bad guy comes our way.

Pockets? Who needs pockets..

I like pockets. I like to have pockets in my jammies, too. I like them in my coats. I like pockets in my jackets. I like pockets in my jeans or pants -- if I have no pockets, I'm almost lost. Granted -- Pockets are useful, but optional. This arrived in my in-box to prove it.

Massing on the border?

I never know what I'll find sitting on the table. Hmm...sometimes I forget what's on the table, but that's another post for another time...

I'm not sure if this is good or not:
They look like they're getting ready to stage a great undertaking. A raid on the Skittles factory, perhaps?

They're not too far from Strawberry Shortcake...maybe they're after her recipes. I've heard they're 'berry' good.

I'm rather wondering, if a plastic bear attacks you, how would you fight them off? Then I remember, I've got Jman and his plastic bottles. :-)

Some Things Work - Some things DON'T

I don't know what's going with Bloglines. I realized that not all of my friends posts are coming through my Bloglines subscriptions....and it's driving me to distraction.

I spent part of yesterday's down time working on putting the blogs I read and follow into Google Reader. I'm not used to Google Reader, and don't find it as user friendly as Bloglines - but at least it's got all the blogs showing up!! Now to scroll through them to find the NEW stuff that I haven't read and making it think I read the old stuff - which I did when it was new.

Yes.

This is sad. I agree with you.

I've been in a sinus haze though, so I'm allowed.
Today I have antibiotics. Tomorrow should be hazeless.

I haven't had as much time to blog and read blogs - but, by golly, when the time comes, I want to be able to at least READ what you say.

Random Nonsense from The Laundry Pile...

First off, I'm laughing at the comments from those of the OCD persuasion. The Offending Encyclopedia has been fixed. Do I need to post a picture to prove it?

Our weekend was quiet. The kids and I were attacked from some sort of allergy "thing". So school work was sporadic. J-man was discovered to have an earinfection. Friday, I decided I didn't feel good. So I sat. Well - and scrapbooked a bit. I'm waaaay behind. I had pictures from 1998 (!!!) that needed to be put in a book. Journaling was important for those pictures, because the memories were fading.

I found pictures from the Christmas where we got our very first Nintendo. The Original Nintendo. Then I found pictures when My brothers got the Super Nintendo. Then I found pictures where they got the very first Gameboys (The ones without the backlights and no color.) . It was fun to travel back in time to remember.

The weekend was fun. Nice and quiet. We took naps.
The Professor decided it was THE weekend. It was time.
THE weekend for the kids to see "The Empire Strikes Back".
Personally, I'm disenchanted with the entire franchise. I keep seeing so many plot flaws...and I used to like the movies. Maybe it comes from having seen Star Wars over and over again.

My 4 year old can hum the theme.

Han Solo is still the movies saving Grace. Yoda was giggled over much, I'd forogtten how fun he was when he first met Luke. The kids thought the movie interesting. G-man really was in Awe of the whole thing.

After watching Han Solo (who rocks!) get encased in Carbonite, I told him that the kids would now have to see how the original series ends. They couldn't just wait to see Han Solo get released. Han Solo really keeps the movies together for me.

After enduring the endless questions -- and comparisons to the Lego Star Wars game - The Professor wasn't sure the kids would ever watch Star Wars AGAIN. EVER.

He relented and let them watch "Return of the Jedi" on Sunday.

After watching-- this is the video that keeps replaying in my mind.



The Kids made the comments that Lego Star Wars is much funnier than the actual movie. I have to agree.

That's why I'm grateful that there are people on YouTube who do stuff like the above.

And that was our weekend.

I like this song...

Really.
I like this song.



After watching it a bazillion times, the movie is on my nerves. no matter what, this song still makes me stop and listen. So I post it here, because it was on the video again for the bazillion second time.

But whatever we do, we should Shine! Our Shine should be a Divine glow...and it should SHINE.

It's Saturday!

It's My Blog-o-versary! I've been blogging for 2 years!
Time To Celebrate!

I numbered the comments on a previous post about this auspicious occasion. Then I took those numbers and entered them into this

Random Integer Generator

And got this:

Here are your random numbers:

5

Timestamp: 2008-08-23 12:40:53 UTC

I'm not sure what UTC stands for - but it's about 7:40 here in The Laundry Pile.

According to my list,

5 = Coffee Mom!!

WooHoo!

Happy Blog-o-versary To me!!