chances are

Chances are - You don't wonder about of the difference between feeling lucky and feeling you have been lucky. I suspect feeling lucky happens more often. (note this post does not cover “getting lucky” that’s a whole different thing) To have felt lucky about some past event requires an experience of a lucky event and recognize the luck involved. The difference in my mind is future thinking vs. understanding the past.

why are horseshoes lucky?

Luck doesn’t let you skip out of having a role in it. You need to notice luck passing your way and then extract the benefits it offers. So there is effort on your part. Be involved in making the most of what comes your way.

A post ago, I mentioned this lottery and was asked in a comment if I would stop blogging if I won. Part of my reply:

“...I suspect if I won big, I would need to shutdown the blog since those smart scammers would have an incentive to connect this blog with this guy having money up the wazoo. And then there would be all these distractions such a new home, cars, trips, haircuts, etc. However, I probably would want to restart my blogging eventually. This whole scenario doesn't concern me much since before this recent lottery it had been, oh maybe 10 years since I played the lottery….”

Benefit of the lottery - A few weeks ago there was a lottery drawing that had rolled up into the BILLIONS. So big that people that can’t even count knew it was a lot of money. I rarely play the lottery and given the chance to take a chance, I prefer going to a casino. However, I played a few chances on it this time. Winning it would have been a life changing event.

I read a few articles during this spectacle of the masses seeking to fatten their wallets with this game of chance. BTW, the day I walked over to buy my ticket there was no line waiting for tickets. The clerk told me his lottery sales were strong and wished me luck.

I should have saved my favorite article so I could offer you a link to it but I didn’t. I don’t recall having thought of the lottery game like this author did. Even to the losers, just the what-if of winning big provides the players a reason to dream about possibilities. You project forward and escape for a brief moment to a different part of the world. That rich and famous corner of the world. Even if you don’t plan on upgrading to a life of luxury, giving large donations to your favorite causes would be rewarding and fun. From now on if I decide to throw down $10 on a lottery game, I’ll also remember it is a dream generating ticket. Dreams don’t always come true so I’m still not going to play often.

Luck of course is not just about money. Once in my career I was lucky to be in the right place at the right time. Sure not all luck but I believe luck played a part.

I had decided to change jobs, found a new company and turned in my two week notice. Before the first week was up, my manager asked me if I would talk to the new international group. Sure, I had nothing to lose. I was leaving. Turned out I was a match for who they wanted to start up a project in Ireland. Few in the whole company even knew there were any plans for anything in Ireland. After days of negotiation, I took the Ireland offer. It was a great assignment.

Accidents - that can be a mixed bag of luck. Unlucky the accident happened. Lucky you survived the accident. I’ve wondered about the few I’ve been in. Certainly one area that you don’t want to push your luck. (how exactly does one push luck?)

Now I’m certain some will disagree but I believe there is luck involved in your own birth. Time, place, parents, etc, might be mostly luck.

Even if luck in not waiting around the next bend, you should keep your eyes open because it could be a fast moving train instead.

Chances are they don't play this song at any lottery store.

bustle in your hedgerow

Stand back while Lisleman once again attempts to arrange the disjointed mumblings of his mind into a readable understandable post.

Don’t be alarmed now.

Last year I wrote the following as the beginning verse of a parody based on the “Sounds of Silence” song. It got rave reviews. Ok, there were a few encouraging comments left by kind readers.

Hello Facebook, my old friend
I’ve come to talk with you again
Because a friend softly creeping
Left comments while I was sleeping
And the anger that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the likes of Facebook
...

(here’s a link to the post if you have to urge to sing the whole thing)

Yesterday, (not the song) our daughter posted this funny graphic on my FB page/wall. I believe much of the online viral vitriol can be found on FB. She has heard me complain about it before so this graphic was very appropriate for me.

Now we don’t have a hedgerow here but we did long ago when we lived in Ireland once for a summer. I was not there long enough to experience a bustle in our hedgerow. It could be scary. I would worry about dangerous skunks.  (oh I don't believe in those nasty Leprechauns) 

Now this next thought is quite a bit of stretch (mind bending?) - try considering your FB comments and shared posts as your online hedgerow. Seems a day doesn’t go by that there isn't a bustle in my hedgerow.  How about yours?

Now that I’ve managed to repeat bustle and hedgerow enough times I suspect you might feel like having a listen to a good cover of “Stairway to Heaven”.

Oh just one more slightly disjointed thought if I may (well it’s my blog so I will). I believe the stairway to heaven should be updated and replaced with an escalator to heaven. Nice kind old people would have tough time on those stairs. C’mon give them a break.

Ok here’s a most unusual cover of “Stairway to Heaven”:

ooh it makes me wonder

woah oh oh oh comments

I’ve said it before and will say it again. Youtube is great for refreshing your ears’ memory of great songs. The song “Lido Shuffle” by Boz Scaggs is one of the songs.

For your enjoyment (and giving me something to post about) I included the song at the bottom.

Now I don’t typically look at the comments on youtube. Many can be just stupid and nasty. But I’m not typical and this time I took a glance at the comments.

Here’s the top comment (did you know youtube comments can be voted on?):

“When I hear this song my mind goes back to 1970's in the Lagoon Sub Shop. There was a waitress there who had a pair of 44's at least and when this song played on the sound system she would start to dance and did she ever bounce and I mean bounce, almost gave herself whiplash!! Such fond memories!! sigh!!”
 - top comment on youtube clip “Lido Shuffle”

Well that comment cracked me up. Yeah guys often have unusual memories. Mammary memories?

Hmm, maybe I should be making like a beeline heading for the borderline.

throw a few words my way

I never knew where this blog would go when I started it. The in-the-beginning story is up there on the "short background" page.  Honestly, I'm not actually sure where we are now with it.

The group effort of comments feeding back into postings works well.  Most of you know this very well since you are also bloggers.

It's a fun hobby. I've even learned a new word or two.

I heard a joke on Wait Wait Don't Tell Me last Saturday.  You might have heard about the recent White House fence jumpers in the news.  Also this year there was a toddler who climbed through the fence.  Now this is serious stuff and certainly potentially deadly in the terrorist world we live in today.  However, here at A Few Clowns Short, we try to lighten up.

So it turns out that getting onto the White House property just requires the right distraction. You throw a few pieces of meat over for the dogs.  Throw a few Colombian prostitutes over for the Secret Service agents.  Now, you are clear to go.

You don't need to jump over a fence to join in here.  Go ahead throw a few words over to distract me.

 

blogged out

I'm sure Disney owns this image

All blogged out. Is that possible?

You can get burned out on most everything. Oh no I said too much. I haven’t said enough. (R.E.M)

Blogging sure has changed over my years of working at it. Said it before, say it again (BTW that approach can work to create more polished postings). Blogging for me requires regular feedback. Comments often spark an idea in my mind or a different view on my idea. Even very short quick comments let me know someone has taken time to look.

The Tinkerbell effect is a big factor for my blog. Comments like Tinkerbell clapping give the blog energy. Now if I had the audience size, Tinkerbell enjoyed the comments could become a big blur. I don’t expect that problem.

So this is my attempt at a new twist of the Tinkerbell effect - Tinkerbell guilt.

Leave a comment.  (I think I hear Captain Hook approaching)


 

fluttery fragments floating free

Oh silly me getting stuck on the f sound again. It’s Friday (internationally speaking), the only day with a ‘f’ in it. Monday is the only day with a ‘m’. People are seldom in the mood for a Monday. I hope you are in the mood for my Friday Fragments post. Mrs. 4444 has been collecting these FF posts for years on her blog. She must have enough fragments for ??? I don’t know. Any ideas?

I'm not sharing nuts today

I’m still crazy after all these posts. What’s it all about? I can’t explain it. I don’t see it coming. It just happens. Still with me (thanks for hanging on here)? Often after reading a post somewhere, as I dance into the danger zone of a comment section, a strange idea will pop up. Since my brain is still connected to my typing fingers I leave a strange comment. (seriously I do blog sober but not somber) Maybe I have left one on your blog. Over on the blog, “Empty Nest”, I left the following strange comment:

Some days I think my key to happiness broke off in the lock.

In other Lisleman news - I got a letter in regular snail mail from one of those identification protection companies. They offered a free trial. I don’t get it. How would I know if someone tried to steal my identification during their trial period? Also, I’m worried that the protection company might steal my identification. You know, they would be experts at it. Maybe you could call them for me. Tell them its me and see if they can spot the difference. I promise if asked, I don’t know you.

this one is for Mrs. 4444

Just a minute. (behind the blog Lisleman reaches deep into his fragment bucket)

Oh yeah, almost forgot. Does your state have an unclaimed property program? Illinois does and I was surprised to receive a letter from them the other day telling me they might have something for me. Something like money. I quickly went online and filed a claim. I just cashed the check from them this week. Sweet. Not big bucks. Less than $100. My best guess would be that maybe a credit card I canceled once had a refund that I didn’t know about. Funny how unexpected amount of money can feel better than a larger amount that you did expect.

one of life's surprises

Joni Mitchell didn’t have blogs to read when she wrote “Both Sides Now”.

I've looked at blogs from both sides now,
from up and down, and still somehow
it's blog illusions I recall,
I really don't know blogs at all

For all you non-morning people - wishing you a late start to a good day. 
 

Rikki don't lose that link

We hear you're leaving, that's OK
I thought our little online time had just begun
I guess you kind of scared yourself, you turn and run
But if you have a change of heart

Rikki don't lose that link
You don't wanna click nobody else
Tweet it off to your online self
Rikki don't lose that link
It's the only one you own
You might click it if you feel better
When you get online

I have a friend on facebook, he's heard your name
We can go out and take selfies
We could stay inside and play games, I don't know
And you could have a change of heart

You can't say I don't pay attention to comments.  On a recent music related post, playlist of memories, CaliforniaGirl500 (the '500' part of her moniker reminds of racing) wrote:

How 'bout Steely Dan? Do you like Steely Dan?

This poor Steely Dan parody is for you.  I think it needs more work.

Let’s not split hairs

Back in my streaking days, a hairy chest was an asset. (Warning: The post you are about to read contains Lisleman’s distortions and speculations. The truth is out there, I just don’t know where.) I did a little streaking on fishing trip to Canada once. Well sorta, the cabin didn’t have indoor plumbing and I needed a rinse. (discovered the lake had more rocks that I thought)

Back then, a shaved head on a twenty something young man would have looked very odd. The only ones I remember were on Hare Krishna guys chanting in their orange robes. Times change. I don’t think anyone would disagree that each generation creates different likes and dislikes especially when it comes to appearances.

My last post had a youtube clip of the Bee Gees. Just one image was shown while their song played. Here’s the picture of the trio from downunder. 

Imagine those guys with shaved heads? Would their muscular hairy chests alone give you a Saturday night fever?

(yes I know just the hair alone doesn't do it. Trim, tan, good voice, blogging talents, etc.)

In the comments on the last post, I wrote:

“...However, as I look at the picture on this video clip I think those hairy chests just seem too much. As in too much like an ape. Well I guess it's better than tattoos…”

Whoa, I just hit two current popular eye candy items in one comment. Well maybe I did, but then maybe I didn’t. Are hairy chests as popular now as they were during the Bee Gees top charting days?

I found a report on a study that says the hair is not so popular. Yeah, if you look hard enough you find a study that says most anything. I just wish I could get a piece of that study grant money. According to this news report on the study, 80% prefer a smooth skin chest.

What do you prefer?

Next time, the bling or the blog make the man?

runnin’ down a comment

There was a blogger once (I’ll assume she is still around in real life but apparently doesn’t blog anymore) who commented that she enjoyed reading my comments on blogs that we both followed. I find that compliment similar to people saying they enjoy your conversations at parties. So we browse around in these virtual blog parties and comment.

If a blog comment section is like a virtual party then Facebook is like the quick chit chat when you run into friends at the mall or bus stop.

Do you (this is directed to fellow bloggers) think leaving a months old post hanging on your blog, is like leaving your Christmas (or Halloween, any holiday) lights up until summer?

good thing my Halloween stuff is not buried under the snow

Yeah on the bathroom scale of problems that is really nothing but a small annoyance. 

Blogs provide a virtual exchange only in the sense that players don’t physically meet but their ideas meet. The idea/thought exchange is very real. I’ve been know to leave a comment on an aging post. I have noticed that comments on an aged post are almost rare. I’m not sure why a post has an unwritten expiration date. Any ideas?

Often I feel comfortably posted here. Facebook feedback is very different. A “like” just means the “liker” noticed your post/share. I don’t expect (or promote) very deep discussions here but I’ve read some blogs with that tendency.  The FB posts/comments are seldom very deep.  Is that your experience or just my FB family friend group?

I’ve finished my tangent here. You see, I started out with the simple idea that I enjoy leaving comments scattered around blogland. I don’t think my comment scattering causes any mess. Even more interesting is when an exchange of thought comes from my comment debris. Most often I forget where I dropped my comment. Here’s a comment I dropped somewhere a few days ago (oh if you found it on your blog and didn’t expect it to be laid upon your blog go ahead, just delete it).

Believe it or not - I seriously thought of getting an earring once (I would have only had one ear done). Never did it but I guess there is still time. It would be useful when I dress as a pirate. A little bling on the ears is nice. Some people go over the top with it though.

this is not a FB or blog feed

Blog on and leave FB for the chit chatters.

if a blogger writes in the forest

Will his words be read?

Ok, I don’t live in the forest but I been in a few and trees do fall all the time there.

good thing that tree didn't fall - you would hear me

I’ll assume those falling trees always make a sound. From the nice comments I often receive, I also know my words are read by some great people.

Don’t worry be happy, I’m not complaining at all. I’m enjoying playing with words on this blog. I thought before I jumped into sharing my odd bits of comments and replies, I needed an intro. A little salsa slid on the appetizer before you crunch into the taco. If I just made you hungry, join the crowd.

a bus through your bedroom wall always makes noise

comments/replies I’ve written here and there:

Actually when I first started blogging I felt like I had just stumbled into a dark room covered in lego pieces. I needed to turn on the light and start putting the pieces together.


"spatula is no longer mingling with the knives and forks" etc. - sounds like you have kinky kitchenware.

Thanks I'm working on my foreign languages like Spanish and Southern.

Yeah I got the institute and research labs both going. Often at the same time! Our hours are irregular and infrequent. We (myself and my imaginary staff) open when the mood strikes me. Please reference the institute anytime.

Brain fart comes to mind. I was reading this opinion piece on some site and I clicked on a suggested story about lawsuits over internet published reviews (could be future post) and I thought that person doesn't need a lawyer but a good voodoo witch/doctor.

Having no concept of time, at times can be useful. That does and doesn't make sense at the same time. Thanks for spending a bit of time here.

I think the music during your "formative" (not sure what form I took?) years creates lasting memories.

blog party for a few thousand please

Today at Lisleman Research and Salty Chip Tasting Labs we present the following topic for analysis and discussion:
 

Blogs vs. Parties

Now just to clarify, I’m referring to the parties where people come together and have fun. Not those political parties that seem to stir up issues and make big city Mayors have crack cocaine at the other type of parties. (Toronto CA will never be view the same again)

Parties and blogs both take some amount of pre-planning. I don’t think the amount pre-planning is completely proportional to the level of fun at a party or blog (I told you this was a research lab so I hope you have your calculator handy). Many factors need to be considered in estimating the final fun level. One or two guests have the ability to raise or lower the fun level no matter how much pre-planning is performed.

Parties and blogs both can have themes. Neither requires a theme.

Parties and blogs both require three or more people. A one person party probably is something you need to discuss with a therapist. Two person party is just a date or something.

Good fun parties and blogs both need good interaction. The comments tossed out at both events can make a big difference.

Research is still needed to determine if there is a correlation between word and picture counts of a post and the fun comment interaction. Here at Lisleman Research and Salty Chip Tasting Labs we found the ratio of snacks and drinks to party attendance must be supplied at a level to allow all party-goers to hold a drink in hand and have a snack in reach without knocking another party-goer out of the way (fights don't go well at either parties or blogs). This supply situation should be maintained for at least 2 hours. One great solution to solve the  supply/person ratio issue is asking each guest to bring something to share. On a blog, the reader only needs to bring some time to read and think of a comment.

Most all parties are private affairs. However, typically you can be easily invited if you know one of the party-goers. Wedding crashing of course is different. Unless you are a spam comment generator most all blogs welcome uninvited guests. I’ve never heard of blog crashing but maybe you have.

Parties are constrained by physical space and your neighbor's use of 911. Blogs audiences of 100’s of thousands are feasible but very rare. (wouldn’t it be cool if your blog brought down the blog server because of traffic?)

Blogs can last much much longer than a party. However the level of fun interaction, the exciting part of either event is not that long. Don’t you hate showing up late to party and the good appetizers are gone along with some of the fun people. An old post on a blog also doesn’t get commented on much either.

You can recycle an old post. A recycled party is just another new party perhaps with the same decorations both hopefully with fresh food and drinks.

Other than a spam comments, blog require no clean up afterwards. I never heard of anyone suffering a hangover from blog reading. (please report any cases of this you know of)

Please pass those chips comments and research results.

 

If I had a bell

where have all the followers gone, long time passing
where have all the followers gone, just last week
where have all the followers gone, facebook, twitter took everyone

If I had a hammer,
I'd hammer in the facebook
I'd hammer in the twitter,
All over this net

If I had a bell,
I'd be quiet in the morning,
I'd ring it for your visiting,
All over this net
I'd ring out comments left by my brothers and my sisters,

I only have blog and a laptop. But if I had a hammer…. 
(too quick of a read - then check out the last post)

coffee mug and genes

On a recent post, Kay of Kay’s Little Korner commented:

“I don't want to be a blogger on TV. That would require me to brush my hair and get a pretty coffee mug while I do this :-)”

In that post I had asked if there was ever a reality show about a blogger. I completely understand her bad hair part of the comment. Myself, I use baseball caps for that too common problem. 

Her comment inspired this post. The surprising inspiring part was the “pretty coffee mug”. I have a favorite coffee cup. If a TV director told me to give it up for a prettier cup then I would need a pay raise. I would also complain how unreal the replacement coffee cup was. Yes, I know the reality show is not about reality but hey I like my favorite coffee cup. Either way, do people really pay any attention to the dishes on a TV show?

But now you probably have forgotten the post title. It’s ok, I have the advantage of my word processor page still showing it. I’m writing this and have trouble remembering where it’s going. Ok the “and genes” part of the title is coming up next. It’s closely related to the coffee cup in my strange illogical thinking.

I’ve been a coffee drinker since college. One of best benefits of a morning at a diner is the unlimited refilled cup of joe. Back during my office working days I typically had a few good cups in and around my desk.

My coffee mugs, past and present, provide evidence that I don’t have the cleaning gene. While I don’t have the cleaning gene I do wear clean jeans. My coffee cup gets a daily rinsing but can go many days without a scrubbing.

Is there a cleaning gene?

National Geographic (long time favorite magazine of ours) featured an article on the genetics of longevity. Here’s a link if you’re interested.

Their article got me wondering if there is a cleaning gene. Did you know there are people who actually enjoy spring cleaning? You might be one of them. Not me. I thought Pig-Pen was the hero character of the Peanuts series.

Oh I drink it black and strong. 

fragments of past replies

I post. You read. You comment. I reply. We rest a bit then repeat.

That’s an extreme simplification of blogging. Tonight I’m in simple state of mind. The weekly FF post (I’m impressed that it has been offered so continuously) is designed to be a simple fun post. Go ask Mrs. 4444 if you don’t believe me. Oh and be sure to read others on her linked list of FF posts.

Honestly I think (judging your own work is error prone) my best past FF posts were ones that I prepared over the week. Of course, my best work is yet to come - right? Now my prep work consist mostly jotting down a few potential FF ideas during the week. This week I jotted down one idea/note. It’s the first fragment.

I thought maybe I would just take a pass this week. I’ve skipped a few weeks before but I do enjoy FF posts because there are fun. I came up with an idea (appreciate your opinion in the comment section) to use fragments of my recent FF post replies as this week's post fragments.

Hope you enjoy a random selection of replies to your past comments.

Last Saturday I tried something new. I had a California Cabernet Sauvignon with cheetos. I paired the cabernet with crunchy style having a freshness date of June 18. As fragments go, I consider this one possibly one day helping a poor guy who ran out of cheese.

--## the following are from past replies ##--

When I was in grade school I believed in mental telepathy. I kept sending thought messages to one girl. Never worked. I should have just written a note.

Weird and tasty too. thanks

Yes and there are times I wish I could speak unfiltered too. thanks

hmm there is the "bob's your uncle" line, but I'm not British enough to completely understand. Not sure why "uncle" was the required word to cry if you twisted someone's arm. Finally there is the "crazy uncle". I don't know if I've reached the status of crazy uncle yet. Our kids think I'm crazy at times. It's a mutual thing really.

thanks - if your fragments are puzzle shaped then you are also feeling puzzled.

LOL - I read stuff like this in the comments and wonder why didn't I think of that. You can turn that into a joke pun. What do you call a criminal using twitter?
perpetweeter - (thanks Mrs 4444)

save a blog - read this

Thanks for being here.

We gather here today to pay homage to an often read and beloved blog.

Wait wait don’t bury me!

 
I’m breathing. I’m writing. I’m posting. Lisleman is still here. Don’t click away. Stop the sad music, put on some funky music, open the bar, let’s party. Alright you’ll need to play your own background music because I dislike those autoplay gadgets and you’ll stay a constant sober at the virtual bar, but exercise your imagination. Imagination and blogging are wondrous things.

When I get mentioned on another blog then I take that as a recommendation. Social media is all about sharing recommendations right? Actually I guess it’s not. Although, I know FB would love you to “like” you way through their shopping ads.  Don't you think offering your readers a link means so much more than a "like"?

Remember save the whales? I do but I never did save one.

Raise your hand if you remember what Steve Case did for the internet?

Oh never mind I can’t see your hands anyway and you’ll need them to write a comment later. Steve has been forgotten. Internet time seems to break the speed limit for time. I guess Steve just had his internet time and now it’s over.

(If you seriously don’t remember or know Steve Case was the CEO of AOL. If you don’t remember AOL then you might be too young to read my blog.)

Will our blogs meet the same fate as AOL? Are we doomed to be push aside by social juggernauts FB and twitter? Will a blog become the dialtone of yesterday? (BTW what exactly does a juggernaut jugger?)

We must post our way back to social influence. Read a post, comment an opinion, express yourself. Recommend this post to all your virtual and real friends. I just ask for a bit of your time and a link.

Here's example of the linky feeling.  I really enjoyed this recent post by Mrs. 4444.

(Just a short tangent on Steve Case - Steve attended the same high school as President Obama. Steve was a few years ahead of Barack.)

Depending on the response, next up might be “I fought the spam and the WTF, I’m not sure who won”. Because not only to bloggers face extinction by FB and twitter consuming time, we must overcome slimy comment spam. Here’s another post about losing that linky feeling.

Remember bloggers, stay strong, post-up, comment and be forever linky.

Update. Thanks to a suggestion left in the comments by Scarlet Blue please enjoy the following inspirational song:

 

 

 

 

 

(proofreading provided by C. F. Eyecare)

friday fragment spectrums

I’m reading a book. (what you only thought I read blogs and newspapers?) The book is titled “Spectrums” by David Blatner. It examines the universe by comparing the spectrum or range of values of distance, sound, heat, etc.

You will find a spectrum of fragments at Mrs. 4444’s blog on Fridays.

Once Mrs. 4444 gave me the finger. Actually it was her finger logic via a few comments. Today’s FF post offers you Mrs. 4444’s logic for ranking the importance of your fingers. Seriously where on the spectrum of fragments would you place info like that?

Here at the Institute for Better Postings (I should have used that as a blog name), I started noticing a drop off in blog visits. Taking the lighten-it-up approach, I reported my finding in a post on my rarely seen blog, “I Can’t Blog”. I was pleasantly surprised that a few readers did read it and shared their comment. A few comments confirmed my findings that there is a general loss of the blog linky feeling within the online world. Who knows maybe my post brought back that blog linky feeling for a few.

I found this picture from a favorite creative person, Terry Border, (Bent Objects) to be very informative. Really who knew?

Source: lisleman on Pinterest

I’ve never step foot in Ikea but I’ve been to Hooters. I thought about studying at Hooters once but could not figure out how to sell the idea to my wife.  (oh studying the wings of course)
 

I’ve mentioned Ikea in a post or two before. Do you search your own blog? I search my blog when I remember writing about a topic but can’t remember when or what exactly I wrote. I can only imagine how difficult finding a piece of past prose was for writers back before computers and word processing. I found my Ikea fragment of a thought back in a FF post written last year.

The reason I included this a shareable fragment today was not the Ikea fragment but the comment/reply exchange I had with Mrs. 4444. You could browse back to that post, but I’ve copied the essence of the exchange for you:

Mrs. 4444 - “...(good commenting words)...... I am definitely feeling my age this week--I was trying to muscle-open a jar of garlic when I heard and felt a "pop" in my fingertip; I've been wearing a finger brace ever since....”  

Lisleman - “Ouch - hope your finger is feeling better.... (blah, blah, blah)....”

Mrs. 4444 - “Thanks. It's better but will need more healing time. At least it wasn't a super important finger.”  

Lisleman (note, I found this ranking of fingers odd and funny - how about you?) - “wow I never thought of ranking my fingers.”

Mrs. 4444 - “Come on...You know what "the" finger is; that one's pretty important for driving, and of course the thumb isn't a finger so doesn't count. A teacher has to have a pointer finger for shaking at kids, and how could I drink my tea without a pinky? That leaves the ring finger, and although mine holds an important object, that object could easily be on any finger, so that's the least-important finger.”

Lisleman - “IMHO - this explanation is worthy of a post. I would have thought pinky but of course would have never thought about it in the first place. thanks”

Mrs. 4444 - “Sounds right up your alley, Bill. Go ahead.haha :)” 

Lisleman - “Ok but I thought you would since it was your explanation. Oh and your finger.”

fraternity fragment parties

I never even considered joining a fraternity. I never felt part of that crowd but if the movies like Animal House have any truth, they knew how to throw parties. Mrs. 4444’s Friday Fragment (FF) mixer hosted on her blog while virtual and tame in comparison to a toga party, might just have a few wild links.




Blogging attention disorder (hey get your own personalized disorder here)

Just this week I had a where-was-I blog moment. A first time visit to a blog with an engaging guest post is what I can recall. The topic was about turning 40 which is an event too long ago for me to barely remember anymore. The post triggered a lengthy comment full of brilliant wisdom (I’ll be the judge of my own wisdom). I wanted to go back and check for a reply, but just can’t remember enough to find my way there.

Squirrel!   Did you see that?

What?  a squirrel?

Not just a squirrel. 
No that was a gangsta squirrel, 
he just flipped me off with his tail. 
Why I’ll whip you like 
a rag doll in a terrier’s mouth, 
you jump any closer.

I took the above MM related picture back in 2011. (the post behind the pic) One of our daughters (one of ones that read this blog) remembered my post and stumbled onto the following pic below. She knew I would like it and shared it with me on FB. Some days you are just going to get wet so stop hiding under Marilyn’s dress.

Source: imgur.com via lisleman on Pinterest

Just think
about ink
and a link

Has anyone gotten a barcode/QR code tattoo that links to a personal page?

Has the tattoo fad reached an absurd level? From the images I’ve seen on the web people have barcoded themselves. I don’t have any ink but plenty of age spots. I’m a natural sorta guy. Even though SF 49ers lost in the power-delayed exciting superbowl last Sunday. The tatoo artist used by 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick became a big winner. It’s been reported there is a 4 month wait to get inked by the artist. I don't think that artist had anything to do with this ink.

PYTHON-A-PALOOZA Had you heard about the python challenge offered last month in the Florida everglades. I was fortunate enough to have visited the everglades a few times. If you didn’t know, this invasive species are overrunning the area. It sounded intriguing and adventurous. Apparently the snakes are difficult to find. Nearly 1,500 hopeful hunters registered but only around 50 snakes have been turned in and the challenge ends Feb. 10. 

let me set the tail down so I can get a better shot

I’m still blogging yeah yeah yeah I mangled another oldie but goodie song this past week. Here’s the link if you want to see the whole mess. 

Oh no I said too much. I haven’t said enough. (R.E.M)

she makes a man want to speak spanish

I asked the famous Latina blogger (neither of those adjectives apply to me) if I could learn Spanish from watching Shakira on youtube.

Lisleman:
My question - Could I learn Spanish by watching Shakira on youtube?

Unknown Mami:
No but you could learn to shake your hips like a moneymaker.

First off, my hips never had the motions expressed by Shakira.  Secondly, how embarrassing having to tell the doctor that I was shaking my hips like a moneymaker when I collapsed in pain. (would be an interesting post though)

I picked up a few words already.

Como se llama - does not mean anything about the llamas of Peru.

Baila en la calle de noche - except I can’t dance worth a damn.

Shakira is very bonita.
 

Is this idea loca?

Would it require tequila?