Half-Past Kissin' Time

The Bright Side

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs4444) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 23:52:00 +0000

Well, it's 5pm on February 14th, and my Valentine and I pretty much spent the day crying; we put Cooper down this morning, and it sucked.

So, we don't really feel like celebrating tonight. There is no romantic dinner planned. However, I did just receive a UPS delivery with a gift (ordered weeks ago) from my Valentine. Hm....What's this?

Hmmm....and "PERISHABLE," too?

Very pretty! I'd never heard of Shari's Berries, and this was promising!

Wow. I figured if they taste half as good as they look, dinner planning tonight could be easier than I thought.

O.M.G. Six of these babies later, and I have to tell you that Sherri's Berries are wonderful for the grieving heart (and stomach). They were clearly dipped and packed with care. Seriously; my heart is a little fragile tonight, and these beauties have been a very special gift. Thank you, my Valentine. I love you...

In case you're wondering, they were cold when they arrived; they're shipped right after being dipped, and they're sent overnight by U.P.S. The directions say to consume them all within 48 hours. (And you know I'm all about following directions!) This is not a compensated review--I just liked them and wanted to share. (The idea, not the strawberries...sorry.)

Sad News

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs4444) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 23:26:00 +0000

Our 10-year-old golden retriever, Cooper, hasn't been feeling well. He's dropped weight in the last year and seems like he's feeling well enough until we take him outside to do his "business." (I'll save you the gory details.) I took him to the vet this morning and got some very sad news; our Cooper has a huge tumor in his abdomen. We are going to have to say good-bye to our dear family friend,

a loving playmate,

a well-loved neighbor,

a friend who never missed a chance to show his love,

my excuse for not exercising,

and a source of amusement for years

(This was a hilarious attempt to make a video for a contest a few years ago)

(No, we didn't win, unless you count the happiness it brought us then and now.)

I've written many, many posts that include Cooper's antics.
I'm adding two of them here, just to have them with this post.

Cooper's Snow Angel

Doggone Cute

Cooper is the kind of dog who loves to welcome neighbors and friends but will turn tail and run the other way if his exuberance scares a child. He's the kind of dog who eats butter, bread, Halloween candy or pretty much anything he can sneak off the kitchen counter but looks at you with apology if it causes intestinal "issues". He absolutely loved camping, especially when it also involved a lake (even when the sign said "No Dogs"). Our camping trips will never be the same.

From the moment Cooper arrived,

he's enriched our family.

It's gonna be a tough week.

Funny Monday: Finger Fiasco

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs4444) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 06:00:00 +0000

Because I have a corny sense of humor, I found this video pretty funny. Ever heard of the "Keystone Cops"? Have a Happy Monday :)

Cracking the Code

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs4444) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 19:05:00 +0000

I've always thought of myself as a teacher, a wife, a mom, but never a computer geek (Stop laughing--I'm serious.)...until last night. We were eating dinner at a restaurant when I noticed the QR code displayed on the table. I commented on it being a great idea (the waiter chirped about how his manager had whipped up the idea). When I tried to use it, though, it went nowhere. The reason: The url linking to the site had been pasted into a box that already had "http://" in it, so when the manager pasted his url in (also containing http:// at the front of it), it doubled up. I was able to explain it to the manager, who was grateful but annoyed; he had made a lot of copies of those codes and had them all laminated and placed on the tables in the restaurant. Moral of the story...Make sure your QR code works before distributing it.

Upon returning to our meal, my husband looked at me and smiled, "Aw...my little geek. I'm so proud."

My name's Barb, and I am also (apparently) a computer geek

Want to know a little more about QR codes? There's an example of one at the top of this post, and if you don't have a smartphone, you probably don't know or care what they are. However, if you are a business owner or someone trying to promote something, a QR code can be a great tool for you to discover.

Basically, QR codes are usually linked to websites. You can display a QR code in your place of business, for example, and your customers simply take a photo with a QR code-reading app on their phones, and they'll be taken directly to your website/Twitter page/etc. You can choose which page it leads to. Smart business owners know how to connect with their customers (or potential customers) and take advantage of this simple technology.

Making a QR code is so simple, a monkey (who can read) could probably do it. Just copy the url to the site you want yours to go to, and then use a QR code generator site like this one to create your code. [Click on the url tab to make a code for a website.] (You can also make a QR code to lead to a phone number or other stuff I don't know anything about :) All you have to remember is that if there is already something in the box you're pasting the url into, you should delete that, first. Then, TEST your QR code to make sure it works.

Got something to promote? Think about your target audience and where you can reach them--your business card, bus stops, college campuses, malls, bathroom doors (just get permission first when appropriate). Another idea I just came up with for a QR code is to put one in a Valentines Day card, leading to a special video or something. Wouldn't that be sweet?! In school, we're using them to take kids on virtual scavenger hunts and other explorations. The possibilities are endless, of course.

Now that I think of it, I suppose the potential for abuse with QR codes is also there. It will be interesting to see where this technology goes. In the meantime, I'm going to have fun exploring.

Friday Fragments: Episode #184

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs4444) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:59:00 +0000

TGIF!! It's time to frag: Unload the randomness from your week and free your mind of clutter.
Thanks for joining us!

***I published I'm Shallow and I know It today and am still chuckling about it. In a scary twist, though, Seth shared the post on Google Plus. If I suddenly go missing, I suggest you investigate the ~~serial killers~~ gentlemen listed in the post, first.

***Well, Kendall doesn't have an ulcer, but we already knew that. The belching continues. We have an appointment with a gastroenterologist in a couple of weeks.

***Speaking of Kendall, she chastised me this week for not blogging often enough and for slacking on my fragments lately. What can I say; I've been at a loss for words!

***As I type this, Mr.4444 and I are watching Infested! on Animal Planet. I'd like to go on record saying that I would rather live in a place that has blizzards and frigid temperatures than live in a place that is cockroach-friendly.

***In a couple of weeks, I'll be presenting a training on Google Docs for my school district as part of an in-service day. We have an entire morning's worth of technology workshops going on, and every single presenter is a district employee; no need to hire out! I think that's pretty cool, and I feel blessed to be a part of it.

***For what it's worth, I am soooo over my blog header and background, but we have had barely any snow this year so far, and I don't want to change the header until I can get a pretty shot of my tree in the snow. Keeping fingers crossed...

***WOOHOO! I just learned that I won a $50 Visa Gift Card from @Downy for tweeting during the Super Bowl for their Downy Unstopables #touchdowny giveaway (which I learned about through my involvement in the One2One Network). I loved Downy before, and I love them even more now :)

***A few days ago, my college sophomore Kyle found himself tongue-tied in the stairwell of his dorm when he encountered a girl he hadn't met yet. They passed like strangers in the night often do. The chip-off-the-old -block couldn't get her out of his head later, so he wrote this on his dorm's Facebook page:

To the cute brunette that I gaped at in the second floor stairwell- I'm sorry, I was distracted. What I MEANT to say was 'hi! we should get coffee some time!' or something clever like that :)
She saw the post and "Liked" it. They have a date planned. (The 4444 charm strikes again!)

***I took nine Difference Makers to a local nursing home tonight. Some of them had never been to a nursing home. One of the little girls was struggling to think of a conversation-starter to use with her Bingo partner. She left the game for a minute to come and ask me if it would be okay to ask, "What's it like to be so old?" I suggested, instead, to use "So, do you have any grandkids?".

Assuming these fragments are enough for Kendall, that's it for me! Your turn:

I'm Shallow And I Know It

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs4444) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 02:00:00 +0000

I have to preface this post with this message: I love Google Plus. I have made many friends there and I love that I can always find inspiring, interesting, humorous, educational posts with a click of a mouse, any time. I've learned a ton over there about a multitude of topics and consider it a rich resource. Like any place in this world, though (our jobs, our neighborhoods, schools, Facebook, the mall, the circus), we're going to find some people who make us feel uncomfortable; we just have to learn how to avoid them.

Also, here is a little background on G+ to help you

*On Google+, you can post to Public, which means the whole world can see what you wrote.
*You can also post to a particular person or circle you created (just family, only people you work with, etc.)

So, you're in complete control of who sees what of yours on G+. If you don't want strangers to see your posts, you don't add them to your circles, even if they have added you to theirs. If someone adds you to a circle but you aren't interested in seeing their content, you can block them (the old-fashioned way) or "Ignore" them (You won't see their content any more, and they won't know that.)

***

Recently, on Google Plus, I commented that I don't just circle anyone who circles me. In fact, I'll put it right out here and admit that I am shallow when deciding whether or not to share my content with someone. Just because someone has added me to one of his/her circles does not mean I have to reciprocate. I'm not just going to flood my stream (like a Facebook wall) with random crap from strangers. And because I don't have all the time in the world, I often cut-to-the-chase and simply click Ignore, rather than clicking through to the person's profile to see if I wanted to circle them back. On what do I base this trigger reaction? Profile pictures.

For example, here are a number of Plus profile photos of people who circled me and inspired me to click "Ignore" almost immediately, without even visiting their profiles:

Now, let me add that I don't fault people for appearing unstable, but I do fault people who don't have the self-awareness to know that their photo ~~makes them look like a serial killer~~ does not make the best first-impression.

This guy looks normal, no? That's what I thought, until I saw his name:

"---- Is Single"

Who does that?!

(besides that guy, I mean, and yes; I took out the letters of his name)

Then there was this guy...

Again, I'm not judging the appearance; I'm judging the self-awareness thing. (That suit is hideous!)

Camera angle is everything in a profile photo.

It can mean the difference between friendly and fiendish....

"Hi" and "High"

And then there's this guy...

I'm not even going to get into the profile pics of scantily-clad women in suggestive poses; I have enough of my own photos like that. (just kidding, lol!)

So, yes; I'm shallow, if shallow means happily-married, sober, and discerning.

If you are the owner of one of these profile photos, feel free to message me for a free consultation on how you, too, can give the appearance of being normal in your profile pic.

While writing this post, I made a point of actually looking at the profiles of these plussers, and I stand by my decision not to circle them back, and not because any of them actually are serial killer; we just don't have a lot in common.

Update: Today, I was added to this guy's circles (in case you're curious, the circle is called People with a Sense of Humor, or something like that).

Masterfully, Seth's profile photo demonstrates "creepy, but in a silly way." I'm happy to report that I checked out his profile, he seems normal, and I have added him to my "Seems Normal" circle.

Not "Chill" Enough

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs4444) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 06:00:00 +0000

image source

Kendall has worked at Dairy Queen Grill-n-Chill four nights, so far. Yesterday, she offered this observation:

"We had a dinner rush tonight, with lots of senior citizens. Old people are a lot crankier, which is kind of surprising, since fast food was probably a lot slower back when they were young; you'd think they'd be more patient."

Here's hoping you have a sweet, chill Monday :)

Friday Fragments: Episode #183

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs4444) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:00:00 +0000

I feel good. Who doesn't feel good on the cusp of a weekend? I hope this finds you all happy, healthy, and full of fragments to share. [Not sure how to share your fragments? Click on the FF tab above and/or visit this week's other fragmenters; I'm sure you'll get the hang of it! :)]

In case you missed it, Rebecca and Tracie are the lucky winners of my cakepop giveaway!

***

Our middle schoolers took the Youth Risk Behavior Survey in school today. The anonymous survey is designed to identify areas of...well...risky behaviors our students might be involved in so that we can address them and thus improve the health of our students. One of my very innocent boys on the autism spectrum called me over to his computer and told me that he didn't understand a particular question, so I read it aloud to him:

Have you ever smoked marijuana? Marijuana is also known as "grass" or "pot." [check Yes or No]

He screwed up his eyebrows and thought about it for a second,

"So, like chewing on grass or something?"

He pondered a moment longer (Apparently, he has chewed on grass a time or two.),

but I cut him off:

"Just check 'No,' Honey."

***

The girl with the smallest veins on the planet (Kendall) is getting a blood draw tomorrow (to look for causes of the mystery belching, which hasn't abated). I actually called ahead to be assured that the phlebotomist feels confident that she can do it without poor Kendall having to get stuck over and over and over again. She assured me that she can. Wish Kendall luck!

That's it for me! (I know--It's shocking, but it is what it is. Be grateful.haha) Now it's your turn! Link up your FRIDAY FRAGMENTS post below (All others will be deleted.) Thanks!

Guess Who?

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs4444) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 06:00:00 +0000

On Facebook, Sunday, I posted an old advertisement from a modeling gig I had more than 25 years ago. It was a pretty big hit, so I thought I'd share it here.

I did some work for Prange-Way (discount "fashion"), Fleet-Farm (back-to-school clothes), Carver Yachts (I got to pretend to have a rich husband,), and Kimberly Clark (all kinds of surgical drapes...very unfashionable). It was good money ($25 per hour for newbs like me), and it helped make ends meet in my college days.

Here's another shot, taken a year or so after the Prange-Way ad. (It's from my modeling portfolio and was taken by Green Bay photographer, Glen Sanderson.)

[In the interest of full disclosure, I have to insist that my stomach was never actually that flat; I'm certain I was not breathing in that photo.]

Mr.4444 calls that my "I will break you" hair, because for the same portfolio, Glen also took this one....

I don't remember ever landing a role in any Arnold Schwarzenegger movies, but it is fun to whip out the old portfolio now and then and remember my "glamorous" days.

[To read/see more of my past photo shoots, visit My Glamorous Past.]

Just Horsing Around

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs4444) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:00:00 +0000

As you probably know, parent-teacher conference night is a great opportunity to showcase the talent of our students. Last week, our art teachers took advantage of that opportunity.

A favorite art project of many student is one in which they are asked to depict their names in symbols. The sky's the limit on the symbols they may choose. The only limitation is that they are not to repeat symbols. One little artist is a big fan of horses, and I mean a big fan of horses, so she was not about to let rules get in the way of her passion. Not to be stifled creatively, she decided to use one horse and one donkey in her drawing.

So, pretend you're the art teacher: What would you have done?

Read in the Classroom

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs4444) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 06:00:00 +0000

Our sixth graders' writings are always enlightening,
and this week was no exception.

One of my students had trouble writing about her topic, Hatsheput,
one of the first female pharaohs in Ancient Egypt.

When asked (begged, really) for something important that she had learned about Hatsheput
(who was a powerful woman known for commissioning impressive monuments, her success with trading and who mysteriously disappeared and was likely assassinated),
Lia supplied,

"She married her step-brother."

***

Budding writer, Annie, wrote an "entire" paragraph about Ramses the Great:

Ramses was one of most big builders in agent Egypt .He built the most cites temples and tombs. .He had at least one hundred kids.Ramses was also one of the most awesome and one of most powerful .He ruled for 66 years, the second longest. All and all, he died.

Clearly, there is some work to be done on conclusions, among other things.

What is it with kids and end punctuation these days?

***

From a journal entry about racism,

a theme in the book Maniac McGee, which we are reading in literature class....

I don't feel that people who are a different color are different.

They all act the same, and half of the people that are different colors are famous

(football, baseball, basketball).

Yes, I am embarrassed, but cut her some slack; she's eleven,

and she lives in a rural, mostly-white community.

And yes, we do plan to enlighten her.

***

And finally, another journal gem, inspired by the topic, "Thank you notes".
(And no, for future reference--we do not grade these in front of the students.)

I think one lesson people should learn is to appreciate what you have.

Big or small, a ton or a little.

You've heard the saying,

"One man's junk is another man's treasure!"

***

Get it? One man's "junk"? (I laughed so hard!!)

You'd think I was the one in sixth grade...

And the Winner Is......

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs4444) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 05:53:00 +0000

Hooray for Rebecca and Tracie, who each won a dozen, delicious cake-pops in my Giveaway!
Congratulations, Ladies! Please send your snail-mail addresses and start drooling, because you're in for a treat! :)

P.S. Forgive me for drawing the winners seven minutes early--I'm falling asleep here and couldn't be sure I stay awake long enough to remember to do it!

Friday Fragments: Episode #182

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs4444) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 03:00:00 +0000

Got tidbits? Fragments? Miscellany? Here's you chance to unload them. I highly recommend it; fragging is good for the soul and a wonderful way to start the weekend. Thanks for stopping by. [First time fragmenting? Please click on the tab above and check out the particulars.]

***

Happy Friday! It's very happy over here, I assure you. Can't tell you why yet (I've been sworn to secrecy for another couple of weeks, and no; I'm not pregnant.) Stay tuned.

***

Kendall got her first "real" job! She going to work at Dairy Queen! Darn--another reason to go out for ice cream....

***

In case you missed it, be sure to enter my giveaway for some delicious cake pops! You can enter until midnight on Friday night.

***

Mr.4444 is a self-professed "flashlight whore." He has at least ten of them, but I'm certain he'll never buy a different one than his new favorite, which he picked up at our local Batteries Plus store:

It has 235 lumens (whatever those are), and even I can't argue with its impressiveness. At $29.95, it's by far the "least-expensive, brightest flashlight" we've ever seen. Personally, I think it would make a fantastic Valentines Day for the man in your life. (Seriously; what man doesn't love flashlights?haha)

***

I watched the documentary, Forks Over Knives, via Netflix last week, and I'm very intrigued; I would love to try a diet free of dairy and animal products, just to see what it does for me. It's probably tough to pull off, though. What do you think? If nothing else, I recommend the movie--It's very informative.

***

Mr.4444 made a wonderful crock pot Pot Roast this week--It was a big hit all around, further reason why the previous fragment would likely be vetoed.

***

Want to know a simple way to increase your credit rating? (This tip comes from my lovely neighbor, Nancy, who is a realtor.) When you're using your debit card in a store and are given the "debit or credit?" option, choose credit. [Update: According to my friend Michelle, of Honest and Truly, this is not true! See her comment below for specifics.]

***

Kyle is still my friend on Facebook. The "rules" for this are: I am not allowed to comment on his wall posts or Like anything before anyone else does. Okay, got it.

Alrighty then! Now it's your turn; feel free to link up and visit some of the nicest folks I know! Have a great weekend.

Who Says Cats Aren't Clean?!

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs4444) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:21:00 +0000

With conferences and a school board meeting this week, three late nights are called for, so I don't have time to create, but I do have a minute to share. Check out this incredible post from Terrence Lui on Google+: How to Train Your Cat to Pee on the Toilet.

Have a beautiful day! :)

Raising Our Children, Raising Ourselves

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs4444) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 03:49:00 +0000

Many years ago, when Kyle was about six years old and we lived in a culdesac, a little neighbor boy asked his mom, my next-door-neighbor,

"Mommy, how come when I get hurt, you come running outside to help, but when Kyle gets hurt, his mommy stays in the house?"

Parenting style, Kid; that's why.

Today, my Kyle is so-far doing pretty well, in spite of or due to that style. Hey, don't get me wrong--I kissed his boo-boos and joked around to distract him from his tears, like everybody else does; but if there wasn't gushing blood or screaming, I kept ~~watching my shows~~ stayed calm. I just didn't freak out when my kids showed negative emotion. I had grown up being denied any expression of sadness or anger, so maybe that's why I let my kids feel.

A few weeks ago, I mentioned that I've been reading Raising Our Children, Raising Ourselves: Transforming Parent-Child Relationships from Reaction and Struggle to Freedom, Power and Joy (a book whose title couldn't be more perfect, incidentally). I loved it from the start, and my passion has grown; this gem is now on my Top-2 books for how to raise healthy, well-adjusted kids. This is not a sponsored post of any kind; I don't actually remember how I stumbled upon this book at Amazon. I've never met or spoken with Naomi Aldort (though I would love to). I just feel like this book can change parents' and their children's lives; it's truly that good, so I want to tell you about it.

Here are some excerpts that made me nod my head and jot "Yes!" or "Wonderful!" in the margins. I've added my thoughts in brackets.:

*About kids having meltdowns...

When giving attention to a sobbing or raging child, you may feel discomfort and even panic. You may perceive the child as suffering beyond her ability to cope. This perception, however, is really about your own discomfort. Therefore, the rush to distract a child from her hurt or frustration, to compensate for a disappointment, or to minimize the importance of her plight is a response to your own anxiety, not the child's. [Wow! So profound and true!! Every parent can recognize this, and if you say you don't, you're probably lying.]

*Bending the world to fit a child's every whim can hinder the natural development of his emotional resilience. [Why can't parents let their kids want once in a while? (see previous)]

*The child who experiences our peaceful presence [when they're upset] is bound to conclude that going through intense emotions is a part of being human. [And maybe even grow up to go through emotions, rather than around them.]

*Loving yourself will also help you to keep your child free from the burden of providing love for you. Your child is not here to give you love and gratitude or to fulfill your dreams and aspirations. [Even great parents forget this sometimes.]

Raising Our Children, Raising Ourselves does have some touchy-feely parts that might make some parents roll their eyes, but to the greatest degree, I cannot argue with Ms. Aldort's wisdom, and I agree that reading this book and implementing the ideas in it would be a gift to yourself, as well as to your child (or grandchild), a gift that would last for generations.

Although my children are mostly grown now, I still very much enjoyed this book, which validated my parenting choices, yes, but also articulated the rationality behind them, even if I (or the neighbor kid) didn't know it at the time.

I love this book! Can you tell?

To learn more about Ms. Aldorts book, workshops, etc. click here.

To read any of my posts related to specific parenting issues, check these out: (Respect, Family Identity, Education & Limits/Boundaries, Attention, or Follow-Through.

Sundays in My Son's New City

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs4444) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 06:00:00 +0000

In case you haven't guessed already, we took Kyle to his new college (U.W. Milwaukee) on Saturday.

This is how we found the refrigerator in his dorm:

At least it was clean,

(which is more than I can say for the floor, which was pretty disgusting).

It's a good thing I'm not that mom, who feels compelled to run around micromanaging her son's move-in.

(His last dorm-mate's parents came in and cleaned the whole place, made his bed

(with his Pokemon blankey, I might add) and stayed long after we had left.)

Hey, cleaning is character-building, right?

No, I did not clean. Instead, I averted my gaze from the dust bunnies and garbage on the floor

to the view from Kyle's window, which incidentally faces Lake Michigan, a half-mile down the road.

Kyle said he wasn't hungry and didn't need lunch, which was probably code for

"Okay, get out of here now-- I need to scope-out some chicks."

We left but took a little cruise toward the lake and found this,

just a few blocks from the dorm--Whole Foods!

(Or, as my niece affectionately calls it, "Whole Paycheck".)

We purchased some provisions for that empty fridge and bought a gift card for Kyle,

who was meanwhile unpacking his duffel bag. A moment later, I received a text:

"The baby scared the crap out of me!"

[insert evil laugh here]

Yes, Mr.4444 had put a little surprise for Kyle in his bag before we left the house:

So, Kyle met us at the door to the dorm with an "empty" but suspiciously-lumpy duffel bag,

and we exchanged the groceries for his "baby brother".

I can't wait to send him a Care Package.

Visit Unknown Mami for more entertaining scenes from around the globe.

Friday Fragments, Episode #181

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs4444) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 03:00:00 +0000

The weather outside is frightful (15-below-zero windchill today), but my fragments are delightful. Not really, but after 180 episodes of FF, fresh intros are hard to come by. Let's unload, shall we? [If you're asking yourself, "Unload what?" click on the Friday Fragments tab above and learn more.]

***I wish we could have some of that snow that the Northwest got this week! If it's going to be cold, we might as well have snow, too. It is freezing over here!!! (14 below-zero F tonight)

***Have you entered my easy giveaway for a dozen delicious cake bites/pops? Really, entering is simple; there's no reason not to, and if you're dieting, you can donate your winnings to anyone you like :)

***I have a secret, but I can't tell you what it is, yet. It's killing me; trust me.

***I wish I didn't feel myself getting sick again, but I can. I took this morning off to stay in bed, but it didn't work; I got up at six and worked, instead. At least I got some work accomplished in peace.

***You can read a very clear, helpful explanation about how SOPA could affect bloggers (and others) here.

***Our students learned how to use SlideRocket this week. It's a fantastic presentation tool. I'll share more with you about that next week.

Looking forward to reading your fragments! Have a great weekend!

Mostly-Wordless Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs4444) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 22:41:00 +0000

I don't know about you, but I think eating vegetarians is wrong.

As if they're not persecuted enough, and now this!

(Apparently, they also eat hyphens.)

What's the world coming to?!

Thanks, Sis (Michelle) for taking this photo and sharing it with the rest of us.

LLL: The Knucklehead Fitness Plan

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs4444) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 03:30:00 +0000

The sad part about political correctness is that so many good jokes are off the table as a result. Mr.4444 shared this gem with me via email, and rather than risk offending any particular ethnic group, I've chosen to replace that reference with "knucklehead." (Which could still be considered offensive, so if you're a knucklehead, please accept my mostly-sincere apology in advance.)

A knucklehead was terribly overweight, so his doctor put him on a diet.

"I want you to eat regularly for two days, then skip a day, then eat regularly again for two days then skip a day. Repeat this procedure for two weeks. The next time I see you, you should have lost at least five pounds."

When the knucklehead returned, he shocked the doctor by having lost nearly 60 lbs!

"Why, that's amazing," the doctor said. "Did you follow my instructions?"

The knucklehead nodded. "I'll tell you though, I taut I were going to drop dead on dat 'tird day.."

"From the hunger, you mean?" asked the doctor.

"No, from the skippin.'

This joke was brought to you by Lisleman's Leftover Laughs. Haven't had your fill? Stop by A Few Clowns Short

A PSA (and Giveaway) About Getting People to Read Your Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs4444) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 16:31:00 +0000

When I have time to read blogs, I do it in one of four ways:

1) I click on your name in a comment you left on my blog and follow the trail of breadcrumbs to your blog. Half the time, though, like Hansel and Gretel, I find no crumbs; I'm led to a dead end, and as much as I love you, I don't have time to go searching for your blog via your name. If you take the time to set up your profile (and add your blog's url) to whatever platform you use for commenting (Discus, Blogger, etc.) it makes it easy for people to return blog visits. If you're wondering why you haven't had a lot of replies to comments you've left on blogs (or return visits to your blog), you might check to be sure you have set up a profile set up on your commenting platform of choice.

2) Another way I might end up at your blog is by seeing a comment from you on someone else's blog. I love bumping into friends this way; it's keeps things interesting.

3) I use my Google Reader to check in on the blogs I've got there. If you don't use a reader for blogs, I highly recommend it. It beautifully simplifies and organizes your blog-reading. This is something you really should consider if you currently use Google Friend Connect to keep up with your favorite blogs--GFC is being discontinued in March of this year. That means that all of the "Blogs I'm Following" list will disappear. Adding a blog to Google Reader is simple to do. You don't have to have a Google email address to use Google Reader. Click Google Reader for Beginners to learn more.

4) When I see interesting blog posts that catch my eye on my Half-Past Kissin' Time Google+ profile, I visit the blog. Since my blogging circles are all attached to that profile (instead of my Barbara Jean profile), I know just where to go to catch up with blogs.

I'm sure other people use these methods as well. In short, the way to get people to read your blog is to make it easy for people to find it and establish a presence in the social networking world. (Of course, there are many other important factors related to getting people to read your blog more than once, but that's an entirely different post.)

And now, to reward the crumb-droppers among you, I am having a giveaway. To enter, all you have to do is leave a comment (and a trail back to your blog). Here are some helpful links for how to do this:

*Create a Disqus Profile (SO easy! Just enter your email/username and then add your blog url.)
*Make sure your Google Profile has your blog listed (You don't have to be a Blogger blogger to enter it.)
*If you use the Blogger commenting platform (instead of Disqus), choose the Name/Url option.
*Email me if you need help!

The prize? Oh, yeah, the prize....Hm. How about a dozen cake-pops (or maybe cake bites)? (They ship nicely during the winter.)

*There will be two winners.
*Deadline: Saturday, January 28th at 12am.

Ready? Go!

When Getting Caught with Your Pants Down Is a Good Thing?

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs4444) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 03:36:00 +0000

Oh, darn! I missed No Pants Subway Ride 2012!

How did I not know about this world-wide event?!

To learn more about this Improve Everywhere event,

visit No Pants Subway Ride 2012, Something We can All Get Behind.

P.S. I found this via Guy Kawasaki on Google+

Friday Fragments, Episode #180

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs4444) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 03:17:00 +0000

Yes, I'm still alive and once again full of fragments. So glad to have a place to unload them. I'm glad you're here. [For the specs on Friday Fragments, click the tab at the top of the page.]

***

Kyle's home from Ecuador! Boy, we missed that kid.

***

Have you entered Rafflecopter's Launch Party Giveaway? I have. I want to win an iPad2 or a Kindle Fire. I've never even used it on my own blog, but I sure am impressed by its efficiency on the giveaways I've entered.

***

My brother Dennis shared this on Facebook today: (Oconto is less than a half-hour from Green Bay.)

***

In addition to other books I'm juggling, I'm currently reading Eats Shoots and Leaves, and I'm laughing out loud with regularity while doing so. This book has made me realize I should probably study up on current comma practices. Some day...

***

Looking for a temp job? The Green Bay Packers organization is hiring snow shovelers. (Bring mittens and a hat.)

***

"If you ask me, the two of them probably share a single brain cell!" (Quote from one of my students this week, telling me about a pair of bullies who've been harassing him on his bus.)

***

In case you missed the Autumn Chopped Salad that a made a few weeks ago, I have to share the recipe again. Everyone at my house loves it, even Kendall, who has a very conservative palate, actually tried it and loves it. She describes it as "scary but crazy-good."

***

If you know me, you will be shocked to learn that I actually ate bleu cheese this week. Seriously! It turns out that crumbled bleu cheese looks a lot like crumbled feta (well, to a tired, overworked, power-grocery-shopper-and-salad-maker, anyway). I accidentally ate an entire salad (we each did) without realizing my "mistake." I'm happy to say it was delicious. (But no, I probably won't be venturing on to bleu cheese salad dressing.)

Okay! Your turn! [But only if you have a FRIDAY FRAGMENTS post, please. Other links will be deleted.]

Monday Minute

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs4444) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 06:00:00 +0000

I wasn't going to post today (no time to plan one), but I knew you would worry about me (I always post on Monday's, right?), so I'm just leaving a note to say Happy Monday and it's all good over here.

And just in case you need a laugh this morning, I'll send you to my favorite Pinterest, You Are Drunk photo. It's rated PG-ish and absolutely hilarious. It's called Having Children Will Strip You of Your Dignity, Literally.

Have a great week!

Sundays in My City: Surprise!

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs4444) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 04:31:00 +0000

In my city this week, my nephew Logan turned thirteen.

My sister Michelle planned a surprise party for him.

Shhhh....Here he comes! (Brother Caden waits to pounce!)

What?

Huh?

Hey, this is kind of cool....

Happy Birthday, Cousin.

Hey, when did you get taller than me?!

The amazing iPhone cake!

(Yes, my sister is artistic, not to mention one of the best moms I know.)

Happy Birthday, Logan!

Soup and Droop

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs4444) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 16:04:00 +0000

The high temperature today is predicted to be a balmy 34 degrees F, and I'm going to enjoy it, because I'm told that in a week or two we're going to get slapped harder than a womanizing drunk* by an "Arctic blast." That's put me in the mood for soup.

photo credit

My mom and my sisters have had two Soup Swaps. Click to read more on that, but it's basically like a cookie swap, except that you're left with a freezer full of soup, instead of a "spare tire".

photo credit

While searching for that post, I found this joke, which Mom shared at our last soup swap:

A girl about 13 came down the stairs in a tight, very immodest shirt and was confronted by her grandma as she went to leave for school, "What in the world are you doing? You can't go out like that; I can see right through your shirt!"

"Oh, Grandma..." the girl replied, pointing to her tiny breasts. "These are nothing but rosebuds!" She left for school. When she came home, she was met by her grandma coming down the stairs wearing no shirt or bra.

"Grandma! Have you lost your mind?! I hope you're not going out like that!"

"What?!" replied Grandma. "I thought you'd like to see my hanging baskets!"

***

Two of my favorite soup recipes include Beef Barley and White Chicken Chili, but I like to change things up a lot, so I'd love some recommendations. Got a favorite soup recipe to share?

*This simile was inspired by Nezzy, Queen of Literary Devices at Cow Patty Surprise. If you don't read her blog, you really need to head over there, as she truly is a master of the simile and makes it seem effortless. Oh, and by the way, the punctuation of my "Arctic Blast" sentence stumped me; feel free to correct it for me.haha