"Game? What game?"
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
The Ronster
I was chatting online with my ex-boyfriend Slim the other night (apparently we get along much better when we're not face-to-face), and he asked if I'd been paying much attention to the presidential candidates. My answer was "not really," although I have been keeping up a little bit with the Hillary chitchat, mainly because I don't understand why everyone hates her so much. On some show I was watching a few weeks ago (Meet the Press, maybe?), they were talking about how, even though you'd think that women would vote for her, just to get a woman in the White House, many women who are Democrats have said (in polls) that if she ends up being the Democratic nominee, they'll vote Republican. I just don't get why there's so much animosity. LEAVE HILLARY ALONE! (Hehe.)
I digress.
So, Slim mentioned that he's really liking what this Ron Paul guy has been saying, even though Ron is a Republican. (Slim is a die-hard, like, wishes-the-U.S.-were-more-like-the-Netherlands liberal.) He and I didn't talk much more about it, but then last night I was watching The Tonight Show, and Ron Paul just happened to be on it. Turns out, he's really more of a Libertarian than a Republican, but I guess he's running as a Republican because that's what he ran as when he ran for Congress. I also really liked what he said, and I even looked at his website when I got up this morning. Of course, it's always important to take a candidate's own website with a grain of salt, but I did find this pretty interesting:
Brief Overview of Congressman Paul’s Record:
He has never voted to raise taxes.
He has never voted for an unbalanced budget.
He has never voted for a federal restriction on gun ownership.
He has never voted to raise congressional pay.
He has never taken a government-paid junket.
He has never voted to increase the power of the executive branch.
He voted against the Patriot Act.
He voted against regulating the Internet.
He voted against the Iraq war.
He does not participate in the lucrative congressional pension program.
He returns a portion of his annual congressional office budget to the U.S. treasury every year.
Good Lord, my father will think he's died and gone to Heaven if he finds out that I might vote Republican. Better not tell him.
I digress.
So, Slim mentioned that he's really liking what this Ron Paul guy has been saying, even though Ron is a Republican. (Slim is a die-hard, like, wishes-the-U.S.-were-more-like-the-Netherlands liberal.) He and I didn't talk much more about it, but then last night I was watching The Tonight Show, and Ron Paul just happened to be on it. Turns out, he's really more of a Libertarian than a Republican, but I guess he's running as a Republican because that's what he ran as when he ran for Congress. I also really liked what he said, and I even looked at his website when I got up this morning. Of course, it's always important to take a candidate's own website with a grain of salt, but I did find this pretty interesting:
Brief Overview of Congressman Paul’s Record:
He has never voted to raise taxes.
He has never voted for an unbalanced budget.
He has never voted for a federal restriction on gun ownership.
He has never voted to raise congressional pay.
He has never taken a government-paid junket.
He has never voted to increase the power of the executive branch.
He voted against the Patriot Act.
He voted against regulating the Internet.
He voted against the Iraq war.
He does not participate in the lucrative congressional pension program.
He returns a portion of his annual congressional office budget to the U.S. treasury every year.
Good Lord, my father will think he's died and gone to Heaven if he finds out that I might vote Republican. Better not tell him.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
WTF?
Please tell me that tonight's episode of Dancing with the Stars was some kind of crazy Halloween prank.
Sabrina Bryan was, like, the best contestant ever. Was she too good or something?
I'm very disappointed, ABC. (Although tonight's Boston Legal kind of redeemed you.)
Sabrina Bryan was, like, the best contestant ever. Was she too good or something?
I'm very disappointed, ABC. (Although tonight's Boston Legal kind of redeemed you.)
Sneaky.
My sister Jenny was out at The McDonald's the other day (Have you ever noticed how, in small towns, it's not "McDonald's" but "The McDonald's"?), and she ran into her friend Buck, whom she hasn't seen in years. In fact, the reason she hasn't seen Buck (despite the fact that they live in the same small town) is that, a few years back, Buck got himself one of those mail order brides from Russia, and she turned out to be a bit...possessive. Naturally, because Jenny is a Hot Little Number, the MOB (Mail Order Bride) put an end to that friendship, and Jenny never heard from Buck again. What follows is the actual conversation that took place at The McDonald's.
Jenny: Haven't heard from ya in awhile!
Buck: Yeah, well you know...been busy. Let me see if I still have the right phone number for you so I can give you a call sometime.
(Buck opens his wallet and pulls out a sheet of paper, which has the words "Account Numbers" written across the top, followed by several rows of numbers. He hands it to Jenny.)
Jenny: None of these were EVER my phone number, Buck.
Buck: Read them backwards.
Jenny: Ahhhh, I see. Clever disguise.
Buck: Feel free to use it.
Jenny: I will. Oh, and that account is closed. I'll have to give you the new number.
For all my devious readers: You're welcome.
Jenny: Haven't heard from ya in awhile!
Buck: Yeah, well you know...been busy. Let me see if I still have the right phone number for you so I can give you a call sometime.
(Buck opens his wallet and pulls out a sheet of paper, which has the words "Account Numbers" written across the top, followed by several rows of numbers. He hands it to Jenny.)
Jenny: None of these were EVER my phone number, Buck.
Buck: Read them backwards.
Jenny: Ahhhh, I see. Clever disguise.
Buck: Feel free to use it.
Jenny: I will. Oh, and that account is closed. I'll have to give you the new number.
For all my devious readers: You're welcome.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Good Advice
After a couple of drinks at the bar:
"Be careful driving home. You don't want to be your first client."
"Be careful driving home. You don't want to be your first client."
I'm Officially Turning Into The Crazy Cat Lady
Since my cat Missy moved into my apartment with me (I like how I just made it sound like she made a conscious decision to move in), we've had some Major Issues, including:
1) the fact that I haven't been able to get her to take her medicine, despite numerous tactics (pressing the pills into soft cat treats, grinding up the pills and sprinkling them over tuna, grinding up the pills and sprinkling them over chicken-and-gravy-flavored wet cat food, prying her mouth open and trying to shove the pills down her throat, etc.);
2) the fact that, because she isn't taking her medicine regularly, her progress toward "normal" has been extremely slow (she's still dragging her right rear paw around behind her); and
3) the fact that, as of last night, she had yet to actually climb into her litter box to use the bathroom (instead, she was walking up to the litter box, placing her front paws in the litter, and then just peeing on the floor in front of it).
Because Candy can only clean up so much cat piss before losing her mind, several subsequent remedial measures were taken (the lawyers reading this just had a good chuckle), including:
1) keeping one eye on Missy at all times while I was home, so that, in the event she needed to use the litter box, I could actually pick her up and place her in it;
2) purchasing pee-pee pads (you know, those things you use to train puppies) and placing them in front of the litter box during the times that I wasn't at the apartment; and
3) purchasing the flattest litter box I could find, hoping that maybe she would have an easier time climbing into it.
After going through an entire pack of pee-pee pads, I realized that the situation wasn't improving and decided to try something different. So, I moved the litter box from the corner of the bathroom (where it's been since Missy arrived) to the middle of the bathroom floor...and lo and behold, I woke up this morning to find several little clumps in the box. That little bitch.
1) the fact that I haven't been able to get her to take her medicine, despite numerous tactics (pressing the pills into soft cat treats, grinding up the pills and sprinkling them over tuna, grinding up the pills and sprinkling them over chicken-and-gravy-flavored wet cat food, prying her mouth open and trying to shove the pills down her throat, etc.);
2) the fact that, because she isn't taking her medicine regularly, her progress toward "normal" has been extremely slow (she's still dragging her right rear paw around behind her); and
3) the fact that, as of last night, she had yet to actually climb into her litter box to use the bathroom (instead, she was walking up to the litter box, placing her front paws in the litter, and then just peeing on the floor in front of it).
Because Candy can only clean up so much cat piss before losing her mind, several subsequent remedial measures were taken (the lawyers reading this just had a good chuckle), including:
1) keeping one eye on Missy at all times while I was home, so that, in the event she needed to use the litter box, I could actually pick her up and place her in it;
2) purchasing pee-pee pads (you know, those things you use to train puppies) and placing them in front of the litter box during the times that I wasn't at the apartment; and
3) purchasing the flattest litter box I could find, hoping that maybe she would have an easier time climbing into it.
After going through an entire pack of pee-pee pads, I realized that the situation wasn't improving and decided to try something different. So, I moved the litter box from the corner of the bathroom (where it's been since Missy arrived) to the middle of the bathroom floor...and lo and behold, I woke up this morning to find several little clumps in the box. That little bitch.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Now We're Talkin'
I saw this on The Today Show this morning. Apparently the Lotus Lounge in Washington, D.C. has come up with their own method of choosing the next "POTUS" (President of the United States): Each candidate is assigned a drink (the drink has something to do with the candidate's background, name, etc.), and the bar keeps track of how many of each drink they sell. The most popular drink/candidate wins!
My favorite is Dennis Kucinich's peach-flavored drink, "The Impeachment." I also like Fred Thompson's "Law and Order" (Jack and Coke). I'm feeling kind of sorry for Sam Brownback, though, because the name of his drink, "The Brownback Special," makes me think of turds and gay cowboys.
My favorite is Dennis Kucinich's peach-flavored drink, "The Impeachment." I also like Fred Thompson's "Law and Order" (Jack and Coke). I'm feeling kind of sorry for Sam Brownback, though, because the name of his drink, "The Brownback Special," makes me think of turds and gay cowboys.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Evidence of My Fabulous Taste in Men
Being the slightly obsessive-compulsive person that I am, I rarely throw away anything that I’ve written. I’m not lying when I say that I still have pretty much every To Do List I’ve made since 2001, not to mention tons of other lists and journal entries that I can't seem to part with. It’s a sickness, really.
Before I started blogging on a regular basis, I used to type my "journal entries" in WordPerfect and save them on disks, which I (of course) still have, but because I haven't had WordPerfect since I got a different laptop in 2004 (I only have Word), I haven't looked at some of those documents in several years. The following is one of my "journal entries," which I thought you might find amusing. I wrote this in March 2003 (I was 20 years old), and that year, my roommate and I had had a Valentine's Day Keg Party. (Best Valentine's Day Ever.) During the party, I met "Jack," whom I began dating. By the time I made this list about him, I'd probably been going out with Jack for about three weeks.
(As usual, anything in italics is present-day commentary.)
Grievances (To Be Referred to in Moments of Weakness)
"Oh shit, I'm having a weak moment. Where's that damn list of grievances?"
1. Is extremely paranoid about being viewed "wrongly."
By viewing him "wrongly," I was probably viewing him "correctly."
2. Doesn't have his own apartment.
Homeless?
3. Calls every day (way too early for that).
Funny, most girls would take this as a good sign.
4. Thinks I lie (just because one of my friends did).
This guy obviously knew me well.
5. Was rubbing another girl's neck and putting his arm around her at the bar.
Major faux pas.
6. Excessive PDA.
Minor faux pas.
7. Calls me out on the games I play.
How dare he. (Canasta? Parcheesi?)
8. Is basically a controlling, horny bastard (who's just really good at hiding it).
Apparently, he wasn't THAT good at hiding it.
9. Wears a baseball cap on our dates.
Sure sign that he was balding.
10. Said that we're "only putting off what's going to happen in the end anyway."
WTF? Was this dude going to murder me?
I can't BELIEVE things didn't work out.
Before I started blogging on a regular basis, I used to type my "journal entries" in WordPerfect and save them on disks, which I (of course) still have, but because I haven't had WordPerfect since I got a different laptop in 2004 (I only have Word), I haven't looked at some of those documents in several years. The following is one of my "journal entries," which I thought you might find amusing. I wrote this in March 2003 (I was 20 years old), and that year, my roommate and I had had a Valentine's Day Keg Party. (Best Valentine's Day Ever.) During the party, I met "Jack," whom I began dating. By the time I made this list about him, I'd probably been going out with Jack for about three weeks.
(As usual, anything in italics is present-day commentary.)
Grievances (To Be Referred to in Moments of Weakness)
"Oh shit, I'm having a weak moment. Where's that damn list of grievances?"
1. Is extremely paranoid about being viewed "wrongly."
By viewing him "wrongly," I was probably viewing him "correctly."
2. Doesn't have his own apartment.
Homeless?
3. Calls every day (way too early for that).
Funny, most girls would take this as a good sign.
4. Thinks I lie (just because one of my friends did).
This guy obviously knew me well.
5. Was rubbing another girl's neck and putting his arm around her at the bar.
Major faux pas.
6. Excessive PDA.
Minor faux pas.
7. Calls me out on the games I play.
How dare he. (Canasta? Parcheesi?)
8. Is basically a controlling, horny bastard (who's just really good at hiding it).
Apparently, he wasn't THAT good at hiding it.
9. Wears a baseball cap on our dates.
Sure sign that he was balding.
10. Said that we're "only putting off what's going to happen in the end anyway."
WTF? Was this dude going to murder me?
I can't BELIEVE things didn't work out.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Kitty Lit' and Kiddie Lit'
I spent my lunch break at Target today, buying cat-related things, because now that Missy's home from the hospital, she's going to be moving into my apartment with me! I can already tell that having her there is going to be a Huge Pain in the Ass (for one thing, I haven't figured out where in the hell I'm going to put the litter box...I don't exactly have a lot of space), but I'm also kind of glad that I'm going to have a little buddy waiting on me when I get home from work every day.
Incidentally, while I was in the Cat Aisle at Target, I looked and looked for a flushable kitty litter, because damn, wouldn't that make my life a little easier. But I didn't see the word "Flushable" on any of the packages, and I figure that if a certain kind of litter is flushable then it will be advertised pretty conspicuously, right? So, I'm wondering...has anyone else found flushable litter? Where? Does it work, or does it clog up the commode?
On a completely unrelated topic, I've been seeing some references on various websites about Dumbledore being gay (this is Harry Potter talk, if you're wondering who the hell Dumbledore is), so I did a search on Google and found this story.
While I couldn't care less whether Dumbledore is gay or straight, I do like some of the other things that J.K. Rowling said during her question-and-answer session, especially the part about teaching children to question authority. Harry Potter is sort of like the kids' version of V for Vendetta, which I thought accomplished the same goal, but with adults. (Funny how both of these stories take place in Great Britain.)
Anyway, I don't care what anyone says about Harry Potter fans being nerds or cult-followers or whatever; I think that the HP series includes some of the best books ever written, and as someone who writes quite a bit (albeit only on a blog), I have the utmost respect for J.K. Rowling (maybe even more respect, now that she's "outed" Dumbledore). It's amazing to me that she basically created an entire world and was able to remember every single detail about it. And in response to the question posed at the end of above-linked story ("which book is your favorite"), I have to say that #6 is mine...and #4 is a close second.
Incidentally, while I was in the Cat Aisle at Target, I looked and looked for a flushable kitty litter, because damn, wouldn't that make my life a little easier. But I didn't see the word "Flushable" on any of the packages, and I figure that if a certain kind of litter is flushable then it will be advertised pretty conspicuously, right? So, I'm wondering...has anyone else found flushable litter? Where? Does it work, or does it clog up the commode?
On a completely unrelated topic, I've been seeing some references on various websites about Dumbledore being gay (this is Harry Potter talk, if you're wondering who the hell Dumbledore is), so I did a search on Google and found this story.
While I couldn't care less whether Dumbledore is gay or straight, I do like some of the other things that J.K. Rowling said during her question-and-answer session, especially the part about teaching children to question authority. Harry Potter is sort of like the kids' version of V for Vendetta, which I thought accomplished the same goal, but with adults. (Funny how both of these stories take place in Great Britain.)
Anyway, I don't care what anyone says about Harry Potter fans being nerds or cult-followers or whatever; I think that the HP series includes some of the best books ever written, and as someone who writes quite a bit (albeit only on a blog), I have the utmost respect for J.K. Rowling (maybe even more respect, now that she's "outed" Dumbledore). It's amazing to me that she basically created an entire world and was able to remember every single detail about it. And in response to the question posed at the end of above-linked story ("which book is your favorite"), I have to say that #6 is mine...and #4 is a close second.
Monday, October 22, 2007
My All-Time Favorite Birthday Picture
I've heard from several of my "older" friends that twenty-five was a really good year for them. Well, if the beginning of my twenty-fifth year is any indication of how the rest of it will be, then it just might be the Best Year Ever.
My celebration actually started the day before my birthday, when my friend "Pete" (alias) took me to lunch at Green Hills Grille. Then, that night, I met Teeny, Frenchy, and Frenchy's new boyfriend Dr. J at Tai for dinner. If you've never eaten there before, I highly recommend it. For sushi people, the Dynamite Roll is the Best Sushi I've Ever Eaten, and for non-sushi people, the Sake Marinated Filet is DELICIOUS (and it's enough food for two people to split, especially if you get an appetizer or salad). After dinner, the four of us headed to Toddy's, where the following picture was taken...and all I have to say is, I may not have had a birthday cake this year, but I definitely had some birthday icing.
Mmmm, tasty.
Naturally, even though I had said that I would only stay at Toddy's "until 10:30 or 11:00," I didn't actually leave until I was forced out (Last Call), which meant that 6:45 a.m. on Friday came waaaay too fast. It also meant that, of the entire twenty-four hours of my birthday, I was only asleep for three of them. (Hey, might as well savor it.)
Friday morning was no fun at all, not only because I was hung over, but also because I was waiting for the dreaded Bar Exam Results, which I knew were going to be posted at 1:00 p.m. From the moment I had learned that the Results were coming out on my birthday, I knew that it was either going to be the best birthday ever or the worst birthday ever, and boy was I relieved when I found out that it would be the former. As soon as I informed The Firm Administrator that I had passed, he sent out a firm-wide congratulatory email, which prompted The Firm Receptionist to tell me to take the rest of the afternoon off. Even though I'm not sure that directive was coming from the Highest Authority, I jumped at the opportunity and was gone by 2:30.
Philly and I, along with our friend "Annie," left for Indiana at 4:00, and because we stopped for a quick bite on the way, we arrived at Caesars at about 9:00...just in time to change clothes and head to the bar for a Birthday Toast before midnight. Here we are, drinking some celebratory champagne, and yes, those are martini glasses...apparently there was a shortage of champagne glasses. If you look closely, you can see which one of us was guzzling her champagne. (I'll give you a hint: Starts with a "P" and ends with a "hilly.")
All in all, I had a great Birthday Weekend, and here's hoping that the rest of the year is just as fabulous!
My celebration actually started the day before my birthday, when my friend "Pete" (alias) took me to lunch at Green Hills Grille. Then, that night, I met Teeny, Frenchy, and Frenchy's new boyfriend Dr. J at Tai for dinner. If you've never eaten there before, I highly recommend it. For sushi people, the Dynamite Roll is the Best Sushi I've Ever Eaten, and for non-sushi people, the Sake Marinated Filet is DELICIOUS (and it's enough food for two people to split, especially if you get an appetizer or salad). After dinner, the four of us headed to Toddy's, where the following picture was taken...and all I have to say is, I may not have had a birthday cake this year, but I definitely had some birthday icing.
Mmmm, tasty.Naturally, even though I had said that I would only stay at Toddy's "until 10:30 or 11:00," I didn't actually leave until I was forced out (Last Call), which meant that 6:45 a.m. on Friday came waaaay too fast. It also meant that, of the entire twenty-four hours of my birthday, I was only asleep for three of them. (Hey, might as well savor it.)
Friday morning was no fun at all, not only because I was hung over, but also because I was waiting for the dreaded Bar Exam Results, which I knew were going to be posted at 1:00 p.m. From the moment I had learned that the Results were coming out on my birthday, I knew that it was either going to be the best birthday ever or the worst birthday ever, and boy was I relieved when I found out that it would be the former. As soon as I informed The Firm Administrator that I had passed, he sent out a firm-wide congratulatory email, which prompted The Firm Receptionist to tell me to take the rest of the afternoon off. Even though I'm not sure that directive was coming from the Highest Authority, I jumped at the opportunity and was gone by 2:30.
Philly and I, along with our friend "Annie," left for Indiana at 4:00, and because we stopped for a quick bite on the way, we arrived at Caesars at about 9:00...just in time to change clothes and head to the bar for a Birthday Toast before midnight. Here we are, drinking some celebratory champagne, and yes, those are martini glasses...apparently there was a shortage of champagne glasses. If you look closely, you can see which one of us was guzzling her champagne. (I'll give you a hint: Starts with a "P" and ends with a "hilly.")
All in all, I had a great Birthday Weekend, and here's hoping that the rest of the year is just as fabulous!
The First Step Is Admitting You Have a Problem.
Philly and I have been back from Caesars for, oh, about eighteen hours now. And we've already started planning the next casino trip, this time to Tunica. We're looking for greener pastures and maybe another chance at winning our way into the 2008 WSOP...which is a long shot, but not entirely impossible.
Like I told Philly: After going heads-up against a girl in a satellite game on Saturday night (she and I were the last two players left, out of ten players that started), where she had $4600 in chips to my $400 (this is fake money, don't freak out), and then coming back and WINNING...I now believe that in poker, ANYTHING in possible.
Like I told Philly: After going heads-up against a girl in a satellite game on Saturday night (she and I were the last two players left, out of ten players that started), where she had $4600 in chips to my $400 (this is fake money, don't freak out), and then coming back and WINNING...I now believe that in poker, ANYTHING in possible.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
The Animals
Here's Missy, resting with her sore leg propped up on a stack of dinner napkins. (Philly was so thrilled):
"Ahhhh...I should act sick more often...damn people finally let me back in the house."
And here's Fred, in an act of solidarity:
"Ouch, my paw hurts too, seeeeeee?" (The smile gave him away.)
"Ahhhh...I should act sick more often...damn people finally let me back in the house."And here's Fred, in an act of solidarity:
"Ouch, my paw hurts too, seeeeeee?" (The smile gave him away.)Friday, October 19, 2007
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Halfway to 50
Ron took Missy to the vet this morning, so now we're just waiting to find out what's wrong with her. Poor little thing, her leg was even more swollen this morning, and she couldn't walk at all, and I know she probably had to go to the bathroom, but she couldn't even make it to the litter box. I spent the night at my parents' house last night so I could be with her, and I could just tell that she was miserable. I hate having a sick kitty.
In other news, my 25th birthday is tomorrow, and as luck would have it, I managed to catch a cold over the weekend and have been sick all week. Since I have Big Birthday Plans, which I really want to be well for, I made a doctor's appointment yesterday to go get some antibiotics. When I mentioned to Frenchy that I'd be using my lunch break for a doctor visit, she reminded me that the new guy she's dating, who might possibly be the Nicest Person on Earth, is also a doctor, who could probably call in a Z-Pak for me and save me some time and money. And so, Dr. J made the call to the pharmacy, and I got my medicine, and I must say that I'm just thrilled with Frenchy's Taste in Men. It's truly benefitting everyone.
As for those Big Birthday Plans that I mentioned: After work tomorrow, Philly and I, along with another girl we know, are driving up to Indiana to go to Caesars for the weekend, and I'm so excited about it. For one thing, I love casinos. The flashing lights, the sound of the slot machines, the abundance of ashtrays, the fact that it's never Last Call...I love every bit of it. Also, there just happens to be a big poker tournament on Sunday (I mean BIG...like, World Series of Poker Circuit big) , and all three of us are going to play in it! Ron is paying for my buy-in as a birthday present. So...wish us luck!
And since I'll be out of town all weekend, I'm going to be out celebrating my birthday tonight! I'm going out to dinner with a couple of friends after work, and then we'll be heading to Toddy's around 9:00...so if anyone would like to join, I'd love to see you there!
In other news, my 25th birthday is tomorrow, and as luck would have it, I managed to catch a cold over the weekend and have been sick all week. Since I have Big Birthday Plans, which I really want to be well for, I made a doctor's appointment yesterday to go get some antibiotics. When I mentioned to Frenchy that I'd be using my lunch break for a doctor visit, she reminded me that the new guy she's dating, who might possibly be the Nicest Person on Earth, is also a doctor, who could probably call in a Z-Pak for me and save me some time and money. And so, Dr. J made the call to the pharmacy, and I got my medicine, and I must say that I'm just thrilled with Frenchy's Taste in Men. It's truly benefitting everyone.
As for those Big Birthday Plans that I mentioned: After work tomorrow, Philly and I, along with another girl we know, are driving up to Indiana to go to Caesars for the weekend, and I'm so excited about it. For one thing, I love casinos. The flashing lights, the sound of the slot machines, the abundance of ashtrays, the fact that it's never Last Call...I love every bit of it. Also, there just happens to be a big poker tournament on Sunday (I mean BIG...like, World Series of Poker Circuit big) , and all three of us are going to play in it! Ron is paying for my buy-in as a birthday present. So...wish us luck!
And since I'll be out of town all weekend, I'm going to be out celebrating my birthday tonight! I'm going out to dinner with a couple of friends after work, and then we'll be heading to Toddy's around 9:00...so if anyone would like to join, I'd love to see you there!
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Pet Emergency
So, I decided to go to my parents' house tonight to do laundry and catch up on my Showtime shows, which I can't watch at my apartment, because I'm too cheap to pay for the premium channels. Since Ron was at work and Philly was out playing poker, I figured it would be a quiet, uneventful evening.
Not so much.
As I pulled into the driveway and opened the garage door, a very pitiful Missy (the cat) came "walking" (and I'm using that term loosely) out of the garage. By "walking," I mean that she was using her front paws to pull her body along, while her right rear leg (which was turned at a very abnormal angle) dragged behind her. And she was SCREAMING.
I did not react well.
First, I jumped out of my car and began begging her to PLEASE STOP TRYING TO WALK. Because, honestly, it was hurting me to even watch her. When begging did not work, I quickly grabbed my cell phone, dialed LaToya (my on-call veterinarian), and said, "OhmyGod-Idon'tknowwhattodo-Missyhasabrokenleg!!!!" I have no idea how LaToya even understood what I was saying, but she managed to calm me down and told me to find the number for the local after-hours vet. She then instructed me to find a cardboard box for the cat and drive her to the clinic. Still panicking, I did three laps around the house looking for a cardboard box, finally settled on a COOLER (hehe), grabbed the cat (gently), and headed for the Kitty ER.
When I arrived with my Cat-in-a-Cooler, I immediately began explaining to the receptionist that, no, I didn't have the cooler lid closed the whole way there, because I'm not inhumane, for Christ's sake, but that I had to close it to carry her inside, and, oh yeah, I think she has a broken leg. While I filled out some paperwork (Name: Missy Sippy), a vet tech came out to get Missy and said, "Hi Kitty! You're in a cooler!" Hehe.
Long story short (Too Late!), Missy's leg isn't broken after all, but it is extremely swollen and appears to have some kind of growth or tumor on it. (Eek.) The vet gave her a shot of pain medicine to make her more comfortable and sent us home, with instructions to go to the "regular" vet tomorrow to have the swollen area aspirated. Poor kitty.
Not so much.
As I pulled into the driveway and opened the garage door, a very pitiful Missy (the cat) came "walking" (and I'm using that term loosely) out of the garage. By "walking," I mean that she was using her front paws to pull her body along, while her right rear leg (which was turned at a very abnormal angle) dragged behind her. And she was SCREAMING.
I did not react well.
First, I jumped out of my car and began begging her to PLEASE STOP TRYING TO WALK. Because, honestly, it was hurting me to even watch her. When begging did not work, I quickly grabbed my cell phone, dialed LaToya (my on-call veterinarian), and said, "OhmyGod-Idon'tknowwhattodo-Missyhasabrokenleg!!!!" I have no idea how LaToya even understood what I was saying, but she managed to calm me down and told me to find the number for the local after-hours vet. She then instructed me to find a cardboard box for the cat and drive her to the clinic. Still panicking, I did three laps around the house looking for a cardboard box, finally settled on a COOLER (hehe), grabbed the cat (gently), and headed for the Kitty ER.
When I arrived with my Cat-in-a-Cooler, I immediately began explaining to the receptionist that, no, I didn't have the cooler lid closed the whole way there, because I'm not inhumane, for Christ's sake, but that I had to close it to carry her inside, and, oh yeah, I think she has a broken leg. While I filled out some paperwork (Name: Missy Sippy), a vet tech came out to get Missy and said, "Hi Kitty! You're in a cooler!" Hehe.
Long story short (Too Late!), Missy's leg isn't broken after all, but it is extremely swollen and appears to have some kind of growth or tumor on it. (Eek.) The vet gave her a shot of pain medicine to make her more comfortable and sent us home, with instructions to go to the "regular" vet tomorrow to have the swollen area aspirated. Poor kitty.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Interesting Morning
I didn't get to work until 9:15 this morning, because my commute, which usually takes about 6-8 minutes, took FORTY-FIVE FREAKIN' MINUTES today. I don't know what the hell happened on the interstate to make Kingston Pike such a clusterfuck, but I'm glad I didn't have to be anywhere important, like a trial or something.
When I did finally arrive at the office, I was surprised to find a big, star-shaped balloon tied to my chair, along with a card. "Oh, they must've thought my birthday was the 16th instead of the 19th," I thought, as I started to open the card. Boy was I surprised when I opened it and read "Happy Boss's Day!" Mainly because I am not anyone's boss or superior.
I was also surprised to find a giant chocolate cake in The Firm kitchen, which, I discovered, was baked in honor of Boss's Day and all of the October birthdays. As someone who (apparently) falls into both of those categories, I took it upon myself to eat about a third of the cake. Thus, my impending "diet" (which really just consists of me eating the same things I would eat anyway, but feeling kind of guilty about it) got put off 'til tomorrow.
When I did finally arrive at the office, I was surprised to find a big, star-shaped balloon tied to my chair, along with a card. "Oh, they must've thought my birthday was the 16th instead of the 19th," I thought, as I started to open the card. Boy was I surprised when I opened it and read "Happy Boss's Day!" Mainly because I am not anyone's boss or superior.
I was also surprised to find a giant chocolate cake in The Firm kitchen, which, I discovered, was baked in honor of Boss's Day and all of the October birthdays. As someone who (apparently) falls into both of those categories, I took it upon myself to eat about a third of the cake. Thus, my impending "diet" (which really just consists of me eating the same things I would eat anyway, but feeling kind of guilty about it) got put off 'til tomorrow.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Might Be Rambling
I went to see my Hairapist yesterday, and I am officially a Brunette again. Not that I wasn't always a brunette "legally," but for the past several months I've been trying out some highlights, which resulted in me looking somewhat blonde, at least in pictures (see right).
I wish I had a good picture to illustrate my return to Full-Fledged Brunette-ness; however, shortly after I left the salon, Frenchy and I headed down to World's Fair Park for the Brewers' Jam, and I forgot to get any close-ups while I was there. So, here's a far-away one, taken after about four hours of "beer tasting," which maybe explains why my eyes are at half-mast.
I wish I had a good picture to illustrate my return to Full-Fledged Brunette-ness; however, shortly after I left the salon, Frenchy and I headed down to World's Fair Park for the Brewers' Jam, and I forgot to get any close-ups while I was there. So, here's a far-away one, taken after about four hours of "beer tasting," which maybe explains why my eyes are at half-mast.
I'll get back to Brewers' Jam in a minute, but first I have to share this conversation I had with Babe at Bailey's tonight, which I think demonstrates the importance of treating others the way you want to be treated. Also, from here on out, Babe will no longer be referred to as "Babe." His new name is "Mooch."
Mooch: I almost didn't recognize you with that dark hair.
Candy: Well, do you like it?
Mooch: It's not terrible. But you know I prefer blondes.
A few moments later...
Mooch: Oh, I got my hair cut too. Do you like it short?
Candy: It's not terrible. But you know I prefer guys with long hair.
Hehe.
Anyhoo, back to the Brewers' Jam. Despite the fact that we had to wait in a ridiculously long line to get in (my only complaint), the Brewers' Jam is definitely my new favorite event in Knoxville. I mean, hell, any time you get a bunch of people together on a beautiful fall day and say, "Here is a shitload of beer. Drink all you want," how can that not be a good time? I ran into a bunch of people I know, including "Eddie" and "Ed" (aliases, of course), Scooter, some Old Flames, and one of my Favorite People in the Whole World (whom I have not seen since 2002), "Ellie Mae."
Ellie Mae and I were really good friends when I was a freshman and sophomore at UT, but the summer after my sophomore year (her junior year), she got married and moved to New Jersey, never to be heard from again. This was very upsetting for me, as many of my Best Memories from those years involved hanging out with Ellie Mae, and after we lost contact, I honestly never thought I would see or hear from her again. (Not because she didn't like me, but because Ellie Mae is not what we would call "Up with the 21st Century." And by that, I mean that she's not on Facebook or Myspace...which is also why I'm calling her "Ellie Mae.") But lo and behold, E.M. has moved back from Jersey, and now we have each other's phone numbers again, and I'm SO HAPPY. If any of you have ever reestablished contact with someone whom you never thought you'd see again, then you understand my excitement.
And that's why I love beer. It brings people together.
Friday, October 12, 2007
I Guess They Can Get Rid of the Kids' Menu
Philly and I went to Charlie Peppers for lunch yesterday, and boy was I shocked when I walked in the door (at 12:15 p.m.) and was immediately asked to show my ID. (And no, it wasn't because I was drinking on my lunch break.)
As I'm sure you all know, the Tennessee legislature recently passed the Non-Smoker Protection Act, which prohibits smoking inside any business (restaurants, bars), except those which only allow people who are over the age of twenty-one to enter at all times. Meaning, that a bar like Bailey's, which used to allow minors inside until a certain time (10:00 p.m., maybe?), now has to be "21 and Up" at all times. Even though this doesn't affect me personally, I still think that the legislature has overstepped some boundaries, and I'm not happy about it.
For one thing, I don't really understand the rationale behind the "21 and Up" requirement. Isn't eighteen the legal smoking age in our state? So why can't the law be that businesses which only allow people who are "18 and Up" to enter at all times can permit smoking inside? I really don't understand the 18/21 distinction, unless it has something to do with alcohol, and in that case, I think the legal drinking age should be eighteen as well, so THERE. (If eighteen-year-olds can make the decision to go to Iraq and risk their lives to defend our country, then they should be able to buy an effing BEER. But I digress.) Also, couldn't the legislators have made it so that businesses which were only age-restricted after a certain time (like Bailey's and Charlie Peppers) could allow smoking after that time each night? I mean, how much does it suck that a LARGE portion of UT students can no longer eat at Charlie Peppers, ever? It sucks for the businesses, especially.
Another problem I have with this law is that I think it should be up to the business owners themselves and not the legislature to decide whether smoking should be allowed in businesses. As a smoker (yes, sad but true), I fully respected that some restaurant owners had made their restaurants completely non-smoking, and I viewed that decision as a cost-benefit analysis that every business owner should have the right to make. Too bad the legislature didn't agree.
I do have one question, though. On the weekend before this law went into effect, I heard some ads on the radio for the Electric Cowboy (a bar/dance club), which said something to the effect of "If you're between 18-20, you better come to the Electric Cowboy this weekend, because after this, you won't be allowed inside until you're 21." Then, this past weekend, I heard another ad for the Electric Cowboy that said, "Sundays at the Electric Cowboy are now 18 and Up. Come by for the Naughty Schoolgirl Contest every Sunday night!" (Because, really, those never get old, right?) So my question is...has the Electric Cowboy figured out a loophole in the law? Or did the owners just decide that they would violate it and pay the fine again and again? Or are they intentionally violating the law so that they can file a lawsuit saying that the law is unconstitutional?
I'm so fascinated. If anyone knows the answer to this conundrum, please let me know!
As I'm sure you all know, the Tennessee legislature recently passed the Non-Smoker Protection Act, which prohibits smoking inside any business (restaurants, bars), except those which only allow people who are over the age of twenty-one to enter at all times. Meaning, that a bar like Bailey's, which used to allow minors inside until a certain time (10:00 p.m., maybe?), now has to be "21 and Up" at all times. Even though this doesn't affect me personally, I still think that the legislature has overstepped some boundaries, and I'm not happy about it.
For one thing, I don't really understand the rationale behind the "21 and Up" requirement. Isn't eighteen the legal smoking age in our state? So why can't the law be that businesses which only allow people who are "18 and Up" to enter at all times can permit smoking inside? I really don't understand the 18/21 distinction, unless it has something to do with alcohol, and in that case, I think the legal drinking age should be eighteen as well, so THERE. (If eighteen-year-olds can make the decision to go to Iraq and risk their lives to defend our country, then they should be able to buy an effing BEER. But I digress.) Also, couldn't the legislators have made it so that businesses which were only age-restricted after a certain time (like Bailey's and Charlie Peppers) could allow smoking after that time each night? I mean, how much does it suck that a LARGE portion of UT students can no longer eat at Charlie Peppers, ever? It sucks for the businesses, especially.
Another problem I have with this law is that I think it should be up to the business owners themselves and not the legislature to decide whether smoking should be allowed in businesses. As a smoker (yes, sad but true), I fully respected that some restaurant owners had made their restaurants completely non-smoking, and I viewed that decision as a cost-benefit analysis that every business owner should have the right to make. Too bad the legislature didn't agree.
I do have one question, though. On the weekend before this law went into effect, I heard some ads on the radio for the Electric Cowboy (a bar/dance club), which said something to the effect of "If you're between 18-20, you better come to the Electric Cowboy this weekend, because after this, you won't be allowed inside until you're 21." Then, this past weekend, I heard another ad for the Electric Cowboy that said, "Sundays at the Electric Cowboy are now 18 and Up. Come by for the Naughty Schoolgirl Contest every Sunday night!" (Because, really, those never get old, right?) So my question is...has the Electric Cowboy figured out a loophole in the law? Or did the owners just decide that they would violate it and pay the fine again and again? Or are they intentionally violating the law so that they can file a lawsuit saying that the law is unconstitutional?
I'm so fascinated. If anyone knows the answer to this conundrum, please let me know!
Something to Listen to at Work
I just found out about a great website. It's an online jukebox, and the way it works is that you pick a year (1950-1982), and it will play songs from that year's Top 100. I've been listening to the hits from 1975 for the past hour, and all I have to say is that "I Feel Like Making Love." Oh wait, that's just that "Jive Talkin'."
Here's the link: Playa Cofi Jukebox
How sweet it is.
Here's the link: Playa Cofi Jukebox
How sweet it is.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Always When You Least Expect It
Girls: You know how, after you've broken up with a guy, any time you go to a place where you think you might run into him (bars, the grocery store, the street in front of his house) you always try to look your best? So you can remind him what he's missing?
Well, ever since Babe and I "broke up" (I'm using that term loosely, considering we only went out for a few weeks), I've been making a point to look "cute" every time I go to Bailey's to play poker, because he used to play there pretty regularly. However, since we stopped seeing each other, I have only seen Babe at Bailey's one time. Other than that, I have neither seen nor heard from him at all.
So imagine my surprise when I was leaving the office yesterday afternoon, and as I was walking to my car, I glanced around the parking lot...and there sat Babe. Apparently he had been on his way home from work and figured that it was about the same time that I got off work, so he decided to stop by and say hello. Naturally, this was the one time that I had gone to work without having washed my hair in two days (I'd taken a bath that morning but hadn't washed my hair), and I had on no makeup. Of course, I'd also dripped ketchup on my lap during lunch. And, of all days, he picked that one to stop by my office.
Ain't that some shit?
I guess I must not have looked too disgusting though, because when I told him that I was on my way to play poker at The Palace, he decided to tag along. I don't think there's much of a future for Babe and me, at least not romantically, but it's nice to have him as a sort-of friend now. Despite his shadiness during our brief relationship, I still think he's a nice guy, and I kinda missed him.
Well, ever since Babe and I "broke up" (I'm using that term loosely, considering we only went out for a few weeks), I've been making a point to look "cute" every time I go to Bailey's to play poker, because he used to play there pretty regularly. However, since we stopped seeing each other, I have only seen Babe at Bailey's one time. Other than that, I have neither seen nor heard from him at all.
So imagine my surprise when I was leaving the office yesterday afternoon, and as I was walking to my car, I glanced around the parking lot...and there sat Babe. Apparently he had been on his way home from work and figured that it was about the same time that I got off work, so he decided to stop by and say hello. Naturally, this was the one time that I had gone to work without having washed my hair in two days (I'd taken a bath that morning but hadn't washed my hair), and I had on no makeup. Of course, I'd also dripped ketchup on my lap during lunch. And, of all days, he picked that one to stop by my office.
Ain't that some shit?
I guess I must not have looked too disgusting though, because when I told him that I was on my way to play poker at The Palace, he decided to tag along. I don't think there's much of a future for Babe and me, at least not romantically, but it's nice to have him as a sort-of friend now. Despite his shadiness during our brief relationship, I still think he's a nice guy, and I kinda missed him.
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Blogging About Blogging
I was browsing around on Instapundit a little while ago, and I came across a link to 47 Key Tips from the World's Best Bloggers. Because I've had several friends express an interest in starting their own blogs, I decided to copy and paste a few of those tips, along with some of my own commentary, which is in italics.
Tips:
Frequency, good writing, and personality - a mix of all those is critical. If you don’t update regularly (it doesn’t have to be every day, but some consistent schedule) it’s hard to gain any following or build traffic.
I agree. I try to post fairly regularly, and I obviously have writing skills and a good personality (hehe), but I'm still having a hard time finding new readers.
People will forgive misspellings and typos as long as they’re finding value in what’s being written.
I'm fortunate in that I rarely have an typos or mispelings.
Don’t worry about who’s reading, and just write about what’s interesting to you. Don’t try to please some external person, just focus on writing about stuff you think is interesting.
Set boundaries. Think about how much of yourself you’re comfortable sharing. You don’t have to “tell all." Just decide which parts of your life you’re willing to share, and try to find a balance that works for you.
I feel comfortable sharing everything except what goes on in the bathroom and the bedroom. And occasionally, I'll even write about that stuff, but only if it's really funny. (Like, for instance, if I happened to spend the night with a guy and was so wasted that I didn't realize until the NEXT MORNING that he had a prosthetic leg. Which actually happened to one of my roommates once.) However, I do realize that not everyone is as comfortable as I am with being so open about their lives, which is why you'll rarely see any "real" names on here, besides mine.
Remember that whatever you publish will be found and archived by Google and other search engines and Web sites. So really think carefully about what you’re putting out there before you do it. People have been fired for the things they’ve written on their Web sites. Never assume that what you’ve written about someone (a family member, friend, or co-worker) won’t be seen by them “because they don’t use the Web."
So true. When I wrote a post about Marc Anthony, I never dreamed that he'd actually read it, but sure enough...a few weeks later, I was listening to the morning show on 102.1 and heard him talking about it! (Not that I cared...I don't think Marc has any pull at The Firm.)
A rule I have is “don’t delete a post." So I think before I write anything, making sure that I don’t put something out there that I’ll later regret. For that reason I don’t recommend drunk blogging. You don’t want to wake up the next morning and read something you don’t remember writing.
Although I wouldn't recommend blogging when you're completely blitzed, I've written some of my favorite posts while I had a two-beer buzz. Any more than that, and you should probably save what you've written as a draft and read over it the next morning before you publish.
Don’t try to please an audience, and don’t post simply because you feel like you ought to-- only post when you have something to say.
I run into this problem quite a bit (as evidenced by this very post). I recommend keeping a list of Blog Topics that you can refer to when you get desperate.
The beauty of a personal site is that there are no editorial guidelines. If you wake up on Monday you may feel completely different from the way you will on Tuesday, and your posts should reflect this. Eventually you’ll find your own voice and a style you’re happy with, and if what you write is interesting and/or entertaining, then you’ll find an audience organically. You won’t have to try to impress.
As a fairly moody person (Bud used to say that I had acute bipolar disorder...because I could be screaming at him one minute and then singing a song that I made up about eating cantaloupe the next...actually, he may have had a point...), I try to avoid writing about my "feelings." Also, I have no idea what it means to find an audience "organically," although I am trying to grow one in my garden right now, right beside the pumpkins. (Just kidding. I'm not actually growing any pumpkins.)
Don’t write about work, and avoid writing about people you know in general. You’ll end up offending someone.
What the hell are these bloggers writing about? Politics? Current events? I'd actually have to "keep up" with those things if I wanted to write about them. I prefer writing about people I know, so that I can get phone calls and emails saying, "Take that off of there! He's going to see it and know that I told everyone that he wears briefs!" Hehe.
Avoid “today I did this” posts, unless what you did was extraordinary, or unless you can turn it into something extraordinary.
Sigh.
It pays to be polite. Calling people names can sound fun, but most readers are turned off by it.
Really? When I start name-calling, I find that everyone just joins in!
Starting off, pick some topics that you know more about than most other people - your profession, your locality, or whatever - and make those a major part of your blog.
Topics I Know More About Than Some (not "Most") Other People: 1) Things to Do in Knoxville; 2) Alcohol; 3) Things to Do in Knoxville That Involve Drinking Alcohol (like, for instance, the Brewers' Jam this weekend); and 4) The Doctrine of Spoliation of Evidence (because, for some reason, the Padnahs at The Firm always seem to be asking me to do research on it).
Retain your sense of self and style – don’t constantly emulate and copy those around you. Your personality needs to shine through first and foremost. It’s what will make your blog unique and “you."
I wholeheartedly agree with this one. Sometimes I have to stop myself from reading other blogs because I notice that I'm starting to write like someone else (e.g., Miss Doxie). Everyone needs to have their own style, for sure.
When my husband and I started blogging we would frequently mention movies and restaurants we planned to attend. Imagine our shock when individuals reading our blog would just show up at these locations hoping to meet us - and would blog about doing so in their own journals!
Okay, if I promise to start writing about restaurants and events that I plan to attend, do the good-looking, single, twenty-(and thirty)something men promise to show up?
Think carefully about what you’re going to call the blog. Assume you’re going to stick with it for a couple of years at least. What sounds cool and groovy today might sound dated tomorrow. What fits in with your lifestyle today might be embarrassing tomorrow.
Know what sounds dated? "Cool and groovy."
The “secret” is to understand that you’re the person who decides whether your blog is a success, not anyone else. If you think that a good blog is one that updates every day, has all the very latest links and is visited by thousands of people a day, you’re almost certainly going to be disappointed. But if you think that a good blog is something that you enjoy writing regularly, and that at least some people out there enjoy reading, then you’re going to do perfectly fine.
Hear, hear!
Tips:
Frequency, good writing, and personality - a mix of all those is critical. If you don’t update regularly (it doesn’t have to be every day, but some consistent schedule) it’s hard to gain any following or build traffic.
I agree. I try to post fairly regularly, and I obviously have writing skills and a good personality (hehe), but I'm still having a hard time finding new readers.
People will forgive misspellings and typos as long as they’re finding value in what’s being written.
I'm fortunate in that I rarely have an typos or mispelings.
Don’t worry about who’s reading, and just write about what’s interesting to you. Don’t try to please some external person, just focus on writing about stuff you think is interesting.
Set boundaries. Think about how much of yourself you’re comfortable sharing. You don’t have to “tell all." Just decide which parts of your life you’re willing to share, and try to find a balance that works for you.
I feel comfortable sharing everything except what goes on in the bathroom and the bedroom. And occasionally, I'll even write about that stuff, but only if it's really funny. (Like, for instance, if I happened to spend the night with a guy and was so wasted that I didn't realize until the NEXT MORNING that he had a prosthetic leg. Which actually happened to one of my roommates once.) However, I do realize that not everyone is as comfortable as I am with being so open about their lives, which is why you'll rarely see any "real" names on here, besides mine.
Remember that whatever you publish will be found and archived by Google and other search engines and Web sites. So really think carefully about what you’re putting out there before you do it. People have been fired for the things they’ve written on their Web sites. Never assume that what you’ve written about someone (a family member, friend, or co-worker) won’t be seen by them “because they don’t use the Web."
So true. When I wrote a post about Marc Anthony, I never dreamed that he'd actually read it, but sure enough...a few weeks later, I was listening to the morning show on 102.1 and heard him talking about it! (Not that I cared...I don't think Marc has any pull at The Firm.)
A rule I have is “don’t delete a post." So I think before I write anything, making sure that I don’t put something out there that I’ll later regret. For that reason I don’t recommend drunk blogging. You don’t want to wake up the next morning and read something you don’t remember writing.
Although I wouldn't recommend blogging when you're completely blitzed, I've written some of my favorite posts while I had a two-beer buzz. Any more than that, and you should probably save what you've written as a draft and read over it the next morning before you publish.
Don’t try to please an audience, and don’t post simply because you feel like you ought to-- only post when you have something to say.
I run into this problem quite a bit (as evidenced by this very post). I recommend keeping a list of Blog Topics that you can refer to when you get desperate.
The beauty of a personal site is that there are no editorial guidelines. If you wake up on Monday you may feel completely different from the way you will on Tuesday, and your posts should reflect this. Eventually you’ll find your own voice and a style you’re happy with, and if what you write is interesting and/or entertaining, then you’ll find an audience organically. You won’t have to try to impress.
As a fairly moody person (Bud used to say that I had acute bipolar disorder...because I could be screaming at him one minute and then singing a song that I made up about eating cantaloupe the next...actually, he may have had a point...), I try to avoid writing about my "feelings." Also, I have no idea what it means to find an audience "organically," although I am trying to grow one in my garden right now, right beside the pumpkins. (Just kidding. I'm not actually growing any pumpkins.)
Don’t write about work, and avoid writing about people you know in general. You’ll end up offending someone.
What the hell are these bloggers writing about? Politics? Current events? I'd actually have to "keep up" with those things if I wanted to write about them. I prefer writing about people I know, so that I can get phone calls and emails saying, "Take that off of there! He's going to see it and know that I told everyone that he wears briefs!" Hehe.
Avoid “today I did this” posts, unless what you did was extraordinary, or unless you can turn it into something extraordinary.
Sigh.
It pays to be polite. Calling people names can sound fun, but most readers are turned off by it.
Really? When I start name-calling, I find that everyone just joins in!
Starting off, pick some topics that you know more about than most other people - your profession, your locality, or whatever - and make those a major part of your blog.
Topics I Know More About Than Some (not "Most") Other People: 1) Things to Do in Knoxville; 2) Alcohol; 3) Things to Do in Knoxville That Involve Drinking Alcohol (like, for instance, the Brewers' Jam this weekend); and 4) The Doctrine of Spoliation of Evidence (because, for some reason, the Padnahs at The Firm always seem to be asking me to do research on it).
Retain your sense of self and style – don’t constantly emulate and copy those around you. Your personality needs to shine through first and foremost. It’s what will make your blog unique and “you."
I wholeheartedly agree with this one. Sometimes I have to stop myself from reading other blogs because I notice that I'm starting to write like someone else (e.g., Miss Doxie). Everyone needs to have their own style, for sure.
When my husband and I started blogging we would frequently mention movies and restaurants we planned to attend. Imagine our shock when individuals reading our blog would just show up at these locations hoping to meet us - and would blog about doing so in their own journals!
Okay, if I promise to start writing about restaurants and events that I plan to attend, do the good-looking, single, twenty-(and thirty)something men promise to show up?
Think carefully about what you’re going to call the blog. Assume you’re going to stick with it for a couple of years at least. What sounds cool and groovy today might sound dated tomorrow. What fits in with your lifestyle today might be embarrassing tomorrow.
Know what sounds dated? "Cool and groovy."
The “secret” is to understand that you’re the person who decides whether your blog is a success, not anyone else. If you think that a good blog is one that updates every day, has all the very latest links and is visited by thousands of people a day, you’re almost certainly going to be disappointed. But if you think that a good blog is something that you enjoy writing regularly, and that at least some people out there enjoy reading, then you’re going to do perfectly fine.
Hear, hear!
Sunday, October 07, 2007
Saturday Night in Pictures
Here are Frenchy and I at Calhoun's on the River, where we went to celebrate after UT kicked Georgia's ass. Note that it is only 8:00 p.m., and Frenchy is already too drunk to even look at the camera.
"I hope I didn't blink."
In this next photo, Frenchy and I have met two Georgia fans from Atlanta. Frenchy has stolen one of their hats in order to make a point.
"Make sure you get the G and my finger next to it."
"I hope I didn't blink."In this next photo, Frenchy and I have met two Georgia fans from Atlanta. Frenchy has stolen one of their hats in order to make a point.
"Make sure you get the G and my finger next to it."Shortly after this, we were approached by a one-armed man, who asked if we (meaning, Frenchy, me, and the two Georgia fans) would join him on his sixty-foot yacht for some drinks. So, off we went to the One-Armed Man's Yacht.
Somewhat sober...
Getting drunker...
Wasted!
Here we are, back at Calhoun's and dancing to the Shoe-Shakerz. Tara is doing her Mary Katherine Gallagher impression.
"Sometimes, when I get nervous, I stick my hands under my armpits and then I smell them like this!"
Somebody get the dude in the back another drink.
Somewhat sober...
Getting drunker...Wasted! Yay for free drinks!
Here we are, back at Calhoun's and dancing to the Shoe-Shakerz. Tara is doing her Mary Katherine Gallagher impression.
"Sometimes, when I get nervous, I stick my hands under my armpits and then I smell them like this!"Finally, here's one of the whole gang, right before we left Calhoun's and went to Toddy's (where we then became "those people"). We also made an appearance at Hanna's in the Old City at about 1:15 a.m., before finally dropping our "dates" back off at their hotel.
Somebody get the dude in the back another drink.Wednesday, October 03, 2007
I'm Curious
As you can see, I changed the template for Legally Brunette yesterday. However, according to Frenchy, who has checked the site from at least two different computers, part of my new template isn't showing up. At the top of the page, there should be a picture of the Tennessee River at night, behind the title "Legally Brunette." Is anyone besides me able to see that picture? I'd appreciate it if a couple of people would leave comments letting me know, so I can see if I need to fix something. Thanks!
Monday, October 01, 2007
Coulda Woulda Shoulda
2007 was not a good year for Candy's Grandmothers. First, my dad's mom (Grandma #1) passed away a few weeks ago, after a long (but, thankfully, not painful) battle with stomach cancer. Then, this morning I got a call from Philly, letting me know that her mom (Grandma #2...or, "Nanny") passed away overnight. Which makes Philly and I feel terrible, because we actually contemplated going to visit Nanny at the nursing home yesterday afternoon, but decided that we "didn't really have time." Because, God forbid we should miss poker at Bailey's.
Needless to day, we're both feeling especially shitty today.
But, as they always say, Nanny is in a better place now. Not only because her health was failing, but also because I doubt she was very happy being "stuck" in a nursing home, where they didn't have her two favorite things in life, Karaoke and Younger Men.
So here's hoping that Nanny's up there in Heaven, singing a lil' Patsy Cline and making eyes at the boys.
Needless to day, we're both feeling especially shitty today.
But, as they always say, Nanny is in a better place now. Not only because her health was failing, but also because I doubt she was very happy being "stuck" in a nursing home, where they didn't have her two favorite things in life, Karaoke and Younger Men.
So here's hoping that Nanny's up there in Heaven, singing a lil' Patsy Cline and making eyes at the boys.
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