I want a hippopotamus for Christmas

But I bought a llama instead.

In honor of my family, via the Heifer Project.

Merry Christmas, everyone.

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Dewey Donation System

I’ve been busy offline the last couple of weeks.  This morning I visited some favorite blogs for the first time in awhile.  I felt a touch guilty heading over to Go Fug Yourself - after all, it’s pretty snarky and I’m trying out this Complaint Free World thing.  Which doesn’t work if I get all snarky.

Silly me, why did I worry?  That’s where I learned about the Dewey Donation System.  Getting kids’ books into libraries and thus into the hands of kids.  Kids who may not have a bunch of books – or any – at home.

Decisions, decisions.  It’s not whether I’ll donate, it’s when and what and to whom. 

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Good behavior by restaurant staff – again

I posted the other day about how an alert waiter in Colorado Springs recently prevented a woman from being victimized - by a drug placed in her drink by her date while she was away from their table. 

Yesterday I read another story about the good deeds of restaurant staff.   Details here and below the fold if the link has gone dead.

You can bet your rigatoni that I’m likely to have lunch or dinner at one of the Pulcinella Ristorante locations sometime soon.

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Networked

 As reported in the Denver Post, this kid has the right idea of networking:

Marisol Tanguma is a little girl with a big heart who understands the power of networking.

On Tuesday, Courtney Tanguma, 4-year-old Marisol’s mother, told the Castle Rock preschooler that the Denver Rescue Mission was in need of donated turkeys to feed homeless people. “I asked her how many turkeys she thought we should buy for the rescue mission,” Courtney remembered.

When Marisol replied 50, her mother laughed and said, “We can’t afford 50 turkeys.”

“Mommy, you know we have lots of friends,” Marisol replied.

It was about noon when she and Marisol began e-mailing friends and relatives asking them to contribute what they could toward “Mari’s great turkey mission.”

By 4 p.m. they had pledges of $445.

Marisol and her mother drove 50 turkeys to the Denver Rescue Mission.

Happy Thanksgiving, Marisol.

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54,997

As of this moment, that’s the number of spam comments that the Askimet spam-blocker has prevented from being posted on this blog.

At no charge to this here blogger.

Thanks, WordPress.

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Felt the urge to kick these piles.

But I didn’t.  

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Stuff on my desk

My desk is never as interesting as Saintseester’s.  But today I had to take this picture. 

The stuff on my desk this morning includes:

• Receipts from my Peru trip to scan and add to my photo slideshow.
• Clipping about Walgreens’ printer cartridge refill service (to remind me to find the closest store that does it).
• Notepad and pen.
• My new (last night!) Nikon D40x – with one of the two lenses it came with.   I still get a little shaky when I remember writing that biiig check at Costco - but I think I’m going to love this new plaything. 

Speaking of which, it’s a glorious sunny fall day and I’m outta here with the new toy to take pictures

PS:  Pictures of my Peru trip are online here.  They were taken with my Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 compact digital camera, which is a terrific gadget in its own right, in my humble opinion.  

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Case dismissed

Jesus Dropped The Charges – The O’Neil Twins

Grainy video but good sound.

One of my all time favorite songs. From the movie Say Amen Somebody.

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Cranky Prof’s been reproducing again

It happened early and via emergency C-section, but mother and baby are recovering.  Mother at home, preemie baby (the Squeaker)  in the NICU making progress on the breathing and other issues.    If there’s anything to heredity, the Squeaker is going to have a wicked wit.  Best wishes to them both.

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Archie

He weighs 165 pounds and works at a home for abused, neglected and emotionally disturbed kids in California. Rather than fuss about the idiot in the White House, the deterioration of the US economy, my sore toe and whatever else is bothering me, I’d rather think about this Newfie and look at this picture (LA Times/Ken Hively) – story and photo from this morning’s Denver Post. Aas usual, story below the fold if the link has expired.

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I’m a Rockin’ Girl Blogger!

I’ve been tagged as a Rockin’ Girl Blogger by Saintseester.  Bless her heart. 

I’m not sure about this big pink badge thingie.  I prefer purple, I think.  But it’s an honor to be tagged!

This was started by Roberta Ferguson, and the idea is that now I pass it on by tagging five Rockin’ Girl Bloggers.  In no particular order, I’m tagging:

1. Bizzy over at Bizzyville.  She describes herself as:   “Totally unemployed. But still? Plucky enough to rock the soup line in her red patent leather sling-back peep-toe wedge-heeled pumps.” 

2. Tracy at Pink Truth.  A blog on a mission that’s also generated a very very funny and supportive community.  And has sprouted a weekend chat and a discussion board with just about 2000 members as of this week.   

3. Elaine, who has Five Acres with a View.  Online and in real estate.  She’s been known to chicken sit for a friend.  How cool is that?

4. Snobaby, who’s Dropping Debt.  You go, girl!

5. Bella Stander, Reading Under the Covers.  I always enjoy her blog and learn things there too.  Thanks!

 

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Live Earth – July 7

HT to Bizzy for blogging this.  Which reminded me of the email I got the other day from the Denver Film Society inviting me to watch Live Earth in big-screen comfort on Saturday.   I checked the DFS website and didn’t see any reference to it, and looked again at the email, which doesn’t say that the invitation is limited to DFS members.  Hmm. 

The email says the show is free, and you’ll get free popcorn and reduced prices on soft drinks, if you bring your own “eco-responsible reusable popcorn bowl” and glass, respectively.   More from the press release/email is below the fold.

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A promising re-Spray

I hate to stand in lines for movies, but I’ll be lining up to see the remake of the cult movie Hairspray on the day it’s released here.  I hope that’s on July 20, which is the movie’s official release date, and not later.

John Travolta (above, left) plays Edna.  I can’t wait!

HT to Suz at Bizzyville for this.  See the Daily Mail story. 

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I always suspected this and now I know

We all know (or should know) that the city/highway MPG numbers published for motor vehicles are at best aspirational, and we’d be insane to expect to get that kind of mileage ourselves.

Now, the former owner of a small SUV has published the statistics from his experience and the numbers don’t lie.

Thanks, Mike!

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A cup of green, to go

A sweeping tip of the hat to author Annie Dawid for her generous act: she bought a case of stainless-steel travel mugs and handed it over to the operator of her local coffee shop in Westcliffe, Colorado. Which was the start of something good. Customers are happily passing up styrofoam to-go cups in favor of reusing the travel mugs. Since Dawid got the ball rolling, many more of the travel mugs have been put into service.

The whole story is in today’s Denver Post and since these things go off-line fast, you can also read it below the fold here.

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Nuckin’ Futs

Indeed.  A little late, I found JibJab’s nifty year in review video.  Go there.  Now.

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Newseum

Wow, this is cool.  HT to Linda L. Richards- who has honored me by adding me to her blogroll.  Check out the Newseum.  Way cool!

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Honoring the subconscious

I hope “subconscious” is the right word. I’m obviously no expert on the workings of the human brain although I’m always grateful that mine works at all. I’m sitting here at 6:20 on a Saturday morning sipping my second cup of coffee and marveling at what just happened here.

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Peeks

The geeks who bring us the weather reports at weather.com have their lyrical moments, as I see this morning:

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What all dogs have in common

They have 321 bones and 42 permanent teeth. Regardless of breed.

I just learned that while watching one of my favorite shows: Barkitecture. It’s on the DIY Network. Veterinarian Karen Tobias hosts, along with designer Kenny Alfonso (“Barkitect”). Some of the doghouse designs are just way cool and fun.

I also have a serious soft spot for Cesar Millan, The Dog Whisperer.

These aren’t must-watch TV shows. I couldn’t tell you when they’re scheduled.  I just love clicking around and finding one of them.  Little delights.

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Goodies from the inbox

How many free email newsletters have I signed up for, only to find I’m deleting the latest installment unread from the inbox? More than I can remember. Mostly because I lacked continuing interest in the subject matter.

But I’m always sure to read the latest copy of Tom Mighell’s Internet Legal Research Weekly – despite the definitely un-sexy title. Because I’m interested in the subject and because he usually comes through with fun little things to brighten the dim corners where we legal drudges sit slumped over our keyboards and dusty files.

From this week’s newsletter: Write like a Babylonian.

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Another burning question answered!

Can diet soda make you fat?

This is not a silly question.  I love Diet Coke.  I am not getting any younger and my days of maintaining a normal weight while blithely ignoring nutritional common sense are (sob!) well and truly over.

Prevention magazine cites research that drinking diet soda does not make you fat, at least when  compared to drinking non-diet soda.

Just in time for Monday morning, too.  I’ll raise my first can of Diet Coke in salute to the Prevention writers at lunch today.  (Yeah, I know, there are other reasons not to overindulge in Diet Coke, but the weight thing is important too.)

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Shopaholic at large

I drive 28 miles each way between home and work, Monday through Friday. Alone in my car.

The people who promote carpooling are of course hawking a worthy thing, which reduces traffic congestion, hydrocarbon fuel consumption, and global warming.

Please join a carpool. Because I would rather swim in boiling oil than ride in a carpool, and somebody has to do it.

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