I Just Want to Celebrate!

Do one nice thing today

2009-10-06T00:00:00.012-05:00

Today I celebrated "Do Something Nice Today"

When I was in junior high and high school, by student body vote, someone would be voted "Most Polite" or "Nicest" in the school. I always thought that was quite an honor, but it was not always the most envied award, when compared to Most Popular. I was pleasantly surprised most years that the students really could identify the nice people and select someone that really truly deserved it.

Today people are not encouraged to "be nice" very often. You're more likely to hear things like Nice guys finish last or No more Mr Nice Guy or even Must be nice! said enviously when one hears of another's good fortune. I sometimes long for the days back home when you'd regularly hear, It's nice to meet ya or Have a nice day. Those are still common phrases you hear around the South.

I can still hear my Mom say: Think nice thoughts. Or, it never hurts to be nice. And, of course, the one you likely heard: If you can't say something nice about someone, then say nothing at all.

I found some interesting quotes about niceness:

At home I'm a nice guy; but I don't want the world to know. Humble people, I've found, don't get very far. (Muhamma Ali)
Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one. (Bill Gates)
I've decided to cut out the part of the speech where I say something nice about Democrats. (Ann Coulter)
Nice to be here? At my age it's nice to be anywhere. (George Burns)
Always be nice to people on the way up; because you'll meet the same people on the way down. (Wilson Mizner)
Always be nice to your children because they are the ones who will choose your rest home. (Phyllis Diller)
If you live long enough, lots of nice things happen. (George Halas)

I think we'd all be able to celebrate life more often if folks would just be nicer. You may have heard about a survey conducted by ABC News "20/20" about rude behavior. I believe that Oprah recently covered a rudeness survey on one of her shows too. It's easy to recognize the rude behavior around us: the loud cell phone discussion in public or the annoying ring of a cell phone during church. Just recently Hugh Jackman called someone out for a ringing cell phone during his Broadway performance. Don't you just hate it too when someone is in the express line at the grocery store with more items than allowed? It's just not bad math skills!

It's surprising to me that many consider rude behavior to be so acceptable. I'm still offended when people curse around me. However, I don't think I blush as much as I once did though. I don't like it when people start working on e-mail when I'm trying to talk with them in their offices. It's annoying to hear the keyboard tapping during teleconference calls as people multi-task during discussions. Some are not nice enough to at least mute their phones. I am still surprised when people make or take cell phone calls during conversations. I especially am annoyed when friends make or take cell phone calls when we're out dining. I'm generally nice though -- and generally just bite my tongue, waiting patiently for the phone conversation to end.

Today I found an article about a movement and book by Debbie Tenzler about being nice. It's called Do One Thing Nice. She encourages people to pick out one day a week to do one thing nice. That does not sound like a hard thing to do.

Today, I encourage you to be nice, recognize the nice people you meet, and to do one thing nice each week.

Image credit: http://www.doonenicething.com/_images/d1ntbook.jpg

Flipping for free pancakes!

2009-02-24T13:22:00.006-06:00

Today I'm celebrating National Pancake Day with IHOP.

They say that some of the best things in life are free. From 7am to 10pm today, International House of Pancakes (IHOP) will give you one free short stack (3) of their famous buttermilk pancakes. National Pancake Day coincides with Fat Tuesday or Mardis Gras in the USA. Some say that National Pancake Day originated several centuries ago when the English prepared for fasting during Lent. Because strict rules prohibited the eating of all dairy products during Lent, pancakes were made, using up the supply of eggs, milk, and butter. IHOP simply asks that you consider making a donation to Children's Miracle Network, which supports local children's hospitals. IHOP hopes to raise $1,000,000 for Children's Miracle Network or other local charities on this day.

Cruising around the track at Daytona

2009-02-15T17:06:00.003-06:00

Today I'm celebrating The Great American Race, watching the 51st annual Daytona 500. While the heat is already rolling during the season-opening event on the tires for Daytona, the ticket prices were rolled back from $99 to $55 in some areas, an economic stimulus package to make the
NASCAR racing more affordable for the devoted fans. The race is running with a capacity crowd near 200,000. The star drivers of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series hope to battle for 200 laps, 500 miles, rolling past the finish line before the rain rolls into town. The press and fans enjoyed Grammy Award winner and country music star Keith Urban as he performed in the pre-race show. I expected to hear Julianne Hough singing the National Anthem, but that was NOT her. I wonder what happened. Tom Cruise (whose ex-wife Nicole Kidman is now the wife of Urban) returned to the racetrack where he filmed "Days of Thunder" to drive the pace car during the opening pace laps. The winner? the race is still on.

The grand slam is a hit out of the park today!

2009-02-03T22:50:00.005-06:00

Today I'm celebrating the FREE Grand Slam at Denny's today!

In today's economy, it's great to hear good news about FREE offers. Today, Denny's offered its Grand Slam breakfast free to customers from 6am to 2pm. I unfortunately was unable to get to Denny's today to catch that fabulous offer. There are many reports of people standing in line for the free breakfast. I love the Grand Slam -- but I prefer 4 slices of bacon instead of the bacon plus sausage. Denny's was once a popular place for me and my friends during a long night of exam prep or after long rehearsals and performances. After tearing down a set and loading lights up through the evening, the Grand Slam is a great treat for the crew after midnight. It's always been a popular place for breakfast too when meeting my friends before the start of a busy day. I have to admit though --- it has been awhile since we've been to Denny's. I'm not sure why -- I guess it's partially because the new IHOP is a bit closer and is a central location to the group. However, I'm impressed with Denny's offer today! It is reported that Denny's paid $3 million for the Superbowl ad, but expected 2 million customers to take its offer on the free Grand Slam today. I understand that rain checks were available for those who could not wait. I also hear that some neat coupon books were available to the first guests who ordered the free breakfast. Way to go Denny's! You're now at the top of my short list for breakfast. I can practically hear that bacon sizzle now!
If you made it to Denny's today, post a comment --- tell us how long you had to wait.

What a pain!

2008-12-22T16:17:00.009-06:00

Christmas is right around the corner and there are several things remaining on my to-do list. The tree is done and the shopping too. Two more gifts to wrap and I am done! However, those Christmas cards may need to wait until next year. Maybe I can find some "Happy New Year!" cards instead. You may be feeling the time crunch too. Or, maybe your wallet is a bit more light this year. I found several videos on YouTube describing the 12 pains of Christmas. Here is one that you may enjoy:
Posted on YouTube by sebbydinatale

Although you may be jolly during most years, you have likely had a challenging moment when you think of some of the pains during the holiday season. Maybe it is the long line at the post office or the check-out counter. Maybe it's the challenge of finding the parking spot at the crowded mall. Maybe you've noticed that they have all the sizes --- except the one that you need. (Try a gift card instead!)

I celebrate Christmas every year --- but sometimes my checklist is shorter on some years than others. Or, maybe there are some items that just aren't completed. However, I try to remember the reason for the season when I get a little frustrated or stressed out. I'm hoping that you understand that too! I hope that your holidays are happy! Merry Christmas all!

Image credit: thedailygreen

The season of change

2008-09-22T20:18:00.010-05:00

Today marks the first day of Autumn. I love the fall. It's a season of change. However, in Texas it takes awhile for fall to arrive. As they say down South, where I come from we don't really see the evolution of beautiful colors of the fall season. If you have trees, many are evergreens. I have one tree in my yard whose leaves turn with the season. It's neat to watch those leaves, but I'd prefer not to spend my Saturday raking them up. What do I like most about the fall? Mostly I look forward to the temperature falling. Last week there were some days where we did not hit ninety degrees, but the temp is looking up this week again. I'll be traveling north to the state of Connecticut where it may get above seventy degrees a couple of days and it will dip into the forties at night. It seems strange to pull the long-sleeved shirts out of the cedar closet when it is so hot. We were told to bring a flannel shirt --- a what? who needs a flannel shirt in Texas?

I must also note that today is Andrea Bocelli's birthday. I've fallen for his wonderful voice. Since four of my family members will be traveling, I'm praying that everyone will be alright and He will watch us where'ver we go. In times of trouble and uncertainty I can celebrate with confidence that guidance and peace are only a prayer away. Perhaps you'll enjoy the following video of Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli singing "The Prayer"

As posted on YouTube by sylviaberaldi

Today I hope that you're celebrating the fall season and you also have peace through the changes, some unexpected, that life brings.

Image credit:
Autumn Pictures
Andrea Bocelli album cover

I love Lucy, the first lady of television comedy

2008-08-06T17:13:00.011-05:00

Today I'm celebrating the birthday of Lucille Ball

Lucille Ball is noted by TVLand as the undisputed first lady of television comedy. Ms. Ball is likely most remembered from her "I Love Lucy"show, which was one of the most successful shows in all of television history. TVLand reports that since its start at 9pm on October 15, 1951 it has never been offair. The show had around 40 million viewers each week and still entertains millions. It was amazing how an ordinary situation could transition to pure absurdity with Lucy, Ricky, Ethel and Fred. You can read about episodes, provide reviews, and vote on your favorites at TV.com.

Here can see on this blogpost a tribute video with some of the best from season 1 and one of my favorite scenes (Lucy and Ethel on the chocolate factory line).

I Love Lucy Season 1 Tribute

As posted on YouTube by gclive

Lucy, Lucy, Lucy

As posted on YouTube by Plymer1258

Today I hope that memories of Lucy bring a smile to your day!

Image credit: tvshowposters

Hello Dolly!

2008-07-23T17:27:00.012-05:00

Today, I'm celebrating because I'm far north of Hurricane Dolly's path!

It's that time of year -- hurricane season. I remember those years of my life on the Gulf Coast so well. I've actually experienced four hurricanes -- there was one additional one, but I was a mere infant and do not recall the experience. You often hear of those crazy people who don't leave the coast -- and celebrate the experience. Well, there have never been any hurricane parties at our house. It's a time focused on preparation, recovery, and survival -- until things return to a normal state. I would party tonight, celebrating that I am nowhere near it. However, both my Mom and brother live in the Valley, right in the path of Dolly. Thankfully, neither are there now. My Mom is at the family farm, far away from the path of Dolly. My brother is vacationing in Mexico. Even though they are at a very safe distance, we all can't help but think about what should be done to prepare their homes for Dolly. My Mom has a very nice neighbor who has helped with those chores around the exterior of the home. Hopefully the rain will be farther north and all the drains work properly so that the water does not rise high enough to enter the garage or the sunroom into the house.

Here's my story of the hurricanes in my life:

Katrina
We all went home to the family farm for my Dad's funeral and got stuck there. Before we even realized it, the storm was approaching and had reached category 5 level. I, of course, wanted to leave. The farm house was full of family and guests. My brother, who had also driven cross-country, quickly gathered his family and things and drove north to escape. My other brother and his family, who had riden with me, jumped in the van with them to leave. Mom refused to leave -- she had guests and just could not walk out. Plus, she knew that we had survived several hurricanes in the past. What was I to do? Drive off without her? Leaving her there alone? I could not. She was naive, thinking we could leave in a couple of days to go home. She obviously had forgotten the challenges people experience after hurricanes. Since we were staying at the farm house (only used during vacations), there was very little in the pantry. There was a little food remaining from the funeral, but mostly cakes. (You think you can live on cake forever, until that is all you have!) I rushed to the local grocer 7 miles away and bought 5 cans of food that I found and some Ding-Dongs for the two of us, knowing that it would not be enough. We would need to rely totally on the generosity of our extended family.

We waited the storm out at the local high school library with some other family members. The hallways of the high school were lined with hundreds of others seeking safety from the storm. They had battery-operated portable radios and televisions. Those televisions won't work soon, due to the conversion to HD planned in 2009. Many had their inflated portable mattresses or sleeping bags. Many also brought their own food. Unfortunately, I most remember the smell of fried bologna sandwiches as we walked through the halls trying to find the library, where my cousin had secured our place with her peer staff. Those that did not bring food, assuming the Red Cross would provide it, became restless. What little was there was not enough. Tempers began to flare. The school had already opened its refrigerators and freezers to give away its milk and ice cream. My cousin opened all the vending machines and I helped work the cash box for those who wanted to purchase snacks. After the storm passed, we then drove back home as far as we could and then climbed over the large, fallen trees and debris to get back to the farm. With the help of two cousins, we then cut a way to get our car back home.

My cousin's family graciously helped us -- sharing with us the food from their freezer that had to be eaten before it ruined. What was leftover from those early meals was carefully stored in the ice chest with the remaining ice that was melting quickly. (I hear that ice is no longer on the emergency supply list for hurricane victims -- obviously someone who has never been in a hurricane decided that!) I drove north with a cousin one day to wait in a line at Walmart for six hours to buy gas for the generator that was borrowed periodically --- to run long enough to pump for water. Waiting in that gas line was a memorable day -- we were never at a loss for words. We periodically would drive north or east closer to Mobile until we could get a signal for my cell phone to give updates to our family members. It was one of the most challenging times of my life. For some I am very grateful and for others who failed us in time of great need I am much disappointed.

Allen
I was enroute with my family to our new home in south Texas during the hurricane. My parents had been in Texas for a short while but had returned to my childhood home for my sister's wedding. Everything I owned was in my Ford Maverick in my big move to the big state of Texas and I was following my parents to their south Texas home. Dad did not want to stop -- hurrying cross country to get home. I remember driving and crossing a bridge (crazy) while water was creeping into the car through the floor before we were able to stop and find shelter. It was raining so much that I had to drive slowly, almost bumping the rear of my Dad's car to even know that they were ahead of me. My youngest brother was riding with me -- we were both terrified. At one point, stuck on the bridge, I heard someone banging on my car window -- it was my Mom who had jumped out the car ahead to join us and to drive the car. When we finally were forced to stop by military personnel who closed the freeway, we stayed the night in a hotel in Kingsville, Texas in one of the few rooms with a roof left. Dad went next door to a diner to buy food but they would only serve the military personnel and power workers. (We had some cheese in the car left over from my sister's wedding which we had just attended.) Dad then asked them just for some bread and mentioned that he had some cheese in the car that his family could eat. They felt really bad for our family and gave to him hamburgers and french fries. We finally made it home the next afternoon -- and waded through knee-deep water in the house and began the recovery. I was surprised to learn that we had water (being from the country where we could not have water until we regained electrical power for our pumps). I ended up losing many clothes as someone was able to steal our clothes from the laundromat while we turned our backs for a very short time.

Frederic
I was at college as the hurricane approached. School was dismissed and I went home to help prepare and to help with the clean-up afterward. We had one of four free-flowing water wells in the county. We sent word to the local radio station noting that we had water and it was free. Cars were lined up for hours for the free water (others with similar wells would charge for it). My little brothers offered to carry water to cars -- and they tipped them. They were under 10 years old and very excited about the tips.

Camille
About twenty family members waited out this storm at our house. It was very frightening. The howling wind was so loud that we never would have heard an approaching tornado. My Mom was 8 months pregnant with my youngest brother -- and had been confined to bed for the last few months. She had been rushed to the hospital several times in the past -- and once the hurricane hit, it would have been impossible to get her there in an emergency. She should have gone to the hospital before that storm, but did not. We were without electricity for 3 weeks afterwards, cooking on the grill and the Coleman stove. I hauled water from the overflow well to the house daily. It was not unusual to be standing at our free-flowing well (loading water to carry to the house, washing our hair) and people drive up for the free water that we gave away.

Top ten reasons you know there's a hurricane churning off the coast in the Gulf:

you get off work early -- but to hurry home to get into hurricane survival mode
there's a constant weather update shown on the TV
there is a rush for generators and propane gas at the local home improvement store
the windows of homes and businesses are being boarded
you can't find any batteries, canned food, bread, bottled water, or ice at the grocery store
all the candles and lanterns are pulled out of storage
all the available containers in your house are filled with water
all the tubs are filled to the brim with water
there's a traffic jam on that typically lonely highway headed north
there's a stack of hurricane tracking maps on the table

Image credit: David J Phillip, AP

And the wiener is....

2008-07-16T23:00:00.018-05:00

Today I'm celebrating Hot Dog month

According to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council, consumers in 2007 spent more than $4.1 billion on hot dogs and sausages in US supermarkets, equaling more than 1.5 billion pounds bought at retail stores alone. Americans will eat enough hot dogs at major league ballparks this year to stretch from Washington DC's RFK Stadium to San Francisco's AT&T Park. New Yorkers consume more hot dogs than any other city. However, Chicago O'Hare International Airport consumes SIX times more hot dogs than LA International Airport and LaGuardia Airport combined. On July 4th, Americans enjoyed 150 million hot dogs, which would stretch from DC to LA over five times. Hot Dog Season runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day. During the season Americans typically consume 7 billion hot dogs or 818 every second. US soldiers in military posts around the world consumed 2.4 million hot dogs last year.

I like a good hot dog every once in awhile, at the football game, at the baseball game, after roasting wieners over a campfire, and when I need a solid menu win with my nephews. I prefer a bit of chili on my dog too if I'm at home. Hot dogs are often topped with a variety of condiments, including mayonnaise, chopped lettuce, tomato (chopped, sliced, or in wedges), pickles, celery salt, cheese, avocado, canned corn, chili peppers, and baked beans, to name a few. (Did Wikipedia really say canned corn? baked beans?) I was surprised to see so many hot dog variations described on Wikipedia. I personally like a simple hot dog, preferring just a bit of ketchup (despite the recommendation of the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council). I guess I just haven't grown up yet. Plus, my family eats ketchup on almost everything! On my first visit to New York City, I just had to buy a hot dog from a street vendor (without the mustard, sauerkraut, and onions though). I have not yet bought a hot dog from a street vendor in Chicago yet.

I only have hot dogs at my house about once a year. I ponder about what type of wieners to buy: the cheapest, the most expensive, the mysterious meat wiener, all beef, all turkey, bun length, the plumpest, etc. I don't dare look at the ingredients too closely. I generally don't want to think about the ingredients and how the wieners are made. However, I found two videos (part 1 and part 2) that show the entire process of how hot dogs are made. I'm not sure I feel much better, but now I know the clue on the packaging for the wieners I don't want to purchase.

When I think of hot dogs, the hot dog eating contest sponsored by Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs in Coney Island every July 4th comes to my mind. It is the largest hot dog eating contest in the world. The 2007 winner set a record, eating 66 hot dogs in 12 minutes. I heard that he won again in 2008, but did not break that record. I found several methods that can be used to win the next hot dog eating contest at your local fair:

Standard - Skip a meal or two and pig out
Stretch it - Gradually eat more and more every day, eating bulky food and drinking plenty of water to stretch your stomach and train your muscles to hold the food down.
Dunk 'em - Dunk the hot dog in water before eating it to make it go down easier
'Ala Japanese - Separate the meat from the bun. Eat the meat and then smash the bun into a tiny wad and eat it separately. The 2006 winner used a variation of this approach, focusing on a pair of hot dogs at a time by eating two buns simultaneously, followed by consuming two meats simultaneously.
Solomon method - After separating the wiener from the bun, break it in half and put the two pieces in your mouth simultaneously --- cutting down on the chewing time.
Wiggle - Wiggle your body as you're eating to help the food go down and encourage it to settle more compactly in the stomach.

Here's an interesting video with some tips on how to beat the competition in a hot dog eating contest:
How to Win a Hot Dog Eating Contest

As posted on VideoJug

FYI - unless you're in a hot dog eating contest, you might find the Hot Dog Etiquette video useful:

As posted on YouTube by hotdogcouncil

Image credit: The Evil Beet

It's time to get connected

2008-07-15T22:30:00.004-05:00

On this date in 1996, MSNBC, a 24-hour all-news network based in the United States, made its debut on cable TV and the Internet. It began as a partnership between Microsoft Corporation and NBC Universal. The news website included original stories and videos plus content from NBC News and other news partners. The first MSNBC slogan was "It's Time to Get Connected" and they regularly displayed e-mail addresses and phone numbers on the network to facilitate connecting with their viewers. There's a lot of competition for news these days and MSNBC is regularly up against CNN and Fox News. Network news services are generally full of controversy and challenges about bias. MSNBC is not exempt from it. All that aside, I think that in general it's great to have multiple sources of information about breaking news items--- each of these news networks generally offers ways for us to get better connected to current events and important issues and offers a variety of viewpoints.

Just stick it!

2008-07-14T23:09:00.010-05:00

Today I'm celebrating the invention of the cork board

On this date in 1891, John T Smith patented the cork board. A cork board is a framed section of cork typically backed with wood or plastic. Cork boards are often used as bulletin boards where announcements and information can be easily posted using sticking pins or tacks. You've likely passed by a corkboard recently. They are found in many places, from college campuses, classrooms, corporate offices, in hallways in many businesses, and in the home. They are often used to post information for others to reference. In classrooms, student artwork is posted. On college campuses, you'll likely see advertisements of local bands, books to sell, tutoring services, etc. In offices and businesses you may see job postings. At home, you may see a grocery list, the calendar of events for the week, a report card that needs to be signed, and photographs.

In my home office, I created a little planning section on one wall that is covered with cork. There is no backing of wood or plastic though. It just includes several squared sections of cork that I purchased from a local office supply store. What's on my corkboard today? A to-do list, a calendar of events, mindmaps of the main topics for the next two wikis I am planning to create, a table of anticipated profit ranges I anticipate from my next big business idea (my dream), some post-it sheets describing two new blogs I've thought about starting, and the organization of a new e-book I want to write. There's a variety of color on my cork board -- from the push pins, to the postits, and to the snippets of paper with my big ideas and goals. Oh, how I wish for one solid month to dedicate work on the items on my cork board!

Before my vacation, I designed some posters to take to my Mom about her available rental property. One afternoon we took a drive around the community looking for prime spots to display the posters. We first stopped at the local dollar store to buy some push pins and some scissors (so that the telephone number could be easily torn from the poster). With the price of gas, it was much more cost effective to drop by the dollar store in Hurley than drive all the way back to the farm for the scissors we forgot. We stopped by the local grocery stores, the feed store, and the hardware store. (Does your community have a local feed store? LOL) One grocery store's bulletin board had been stolen; only its frame remained. Most had a cork board outside the entrance. Mostly there were ads for vehicles, lawn mowers, tractors, and dogs. Of course, there were the posters about the various services people could perform, like housekeeping and lawn care.

Today, I quickly jotted down some of the many ways I've used a cork board:

Posted pics of my favorite things
Posted my to-do list
Posted an ad to sell something
Posted a pic of a dream (vacation spot, new car, those profit margins)
Posted a reminder (dental appointment card)
Posted some info don't want to lose (phone number)
Posted a message
Posted tickets that I did not want to lose
Posted tickets for the show I wanted to remember fondly, often
Posted a receipt for something I needed to handle (for taxes, for reimbursement, for a rebate)
Posted info to help me organize my thoughts

Today, I'm reminded that the cork board is a great invention -- one that can be used to stick just about anything you want to remember or to announce. Sure, we've got the PDA, e-mail, instant messaging, blogs, wikis, e-Bay, Craigslist, postits for the desktop, etc. However, the corkboard, although a sort-of old- fashioned concept, definitely still works and is a valuable tool for many.

Here's a little video I'd like to stick on my cork board of things to celebrate -- it's a creative little stopmotion video created using the cork board:

Tackiness

As posted on YouTube by soysteph

Image credit: Pin-artsy from Wikimedia Commons

Happy Birthday USA!

2008-07-01T17:48:00.005-05:00

We're starting our celebration early this year. Taking a little break to enjoy the family. Maybe we'll go fishing and spend some time at the beach too. The grill is already ready! Have a great holiday. We'll be back soon, reporting things to celebrate everyday!

Image credit: RazzleDazzleRecipes

Who's got the clicker?

2008-06-29T13:04:00.006-05:00

A day for all couch potatoes to celebrate! Today is celebrated by many as the date when the remote control was first introduced.

The first remote intended to control a television was developed by Zenith. It was officially called Lazy Bones. The first remotes were actually connected to the television set by a wire. Many complained about tripping over the cable. Later, a wireless remote was developed. Wikipedia notes that the remote is often called a "clicker" because of the sound the early remote made when the user pushed a button on the remote control. The remote has reportedly changed network television programming. They now split the screen so that you simultaneously view credits during the last moments of a broadcast. More commercials are placed in the middle of programs with transitions into the next show directly. The networks don't want you to switch that channel and they don't want you to miss their sponsors' commercials.

The remote has given viewers opportunity -- opportunity to interact with your tv. Viewers can easily change their minds and not watch a show because they do not want to continuously get up to turn the channel. It drives me crazy when someone constantly is changing the TV channels though. I once had a college roommate who would try to keep up with multiple shows being televised at the same time. She was constantly clicking back-and-forth, switching channels during commercials. The remote was practically glued to her hand. The remote definitely comes in handy for those with DVRs. Because of the DVR unit, we start watching the show a few minutes late and then we just fast forward passed those pesky commercials using the wonderful remote control. We generally only look forward to the commercials during the Superbowl!

Things have certainly changed a lot during my lifetime. I grew up in rural America and we were lucky to get three tv stations in our area. There was no cable and no satellite. In our house, the kids had responsibilities. One had the responsibility of changing the channel at Dad's request. Another had the responsibility of standing outside and turning the TV antennae to make the picture as clear as possible! I was very glad when my little brothers grew older and were able to share these duties. I don't miss those days. However, I am reminded of them when we go to the family farm for vacation -- still no cable or satellite and still dealing with what channels are avaiable without sending someone to the antennae. Of course, that will change in 2009. In less than a year, that antennae will be worthless and will be replaced by a little box required to convert the signal into something our old tvs at the farm will recognize.

Perhaps your coffee table is full of remotes -- one for the TV, the DVD player, the cable/satellite/DRV box, the CD player, and the amplifier. Don't forget about the remote for the ceiling fan and the lights. It's been reported that the average American home has four remotes. They sell remotes for remotes -- those universal remotes that magically "learn" or duplicate the signals of the other remotes you have in your home. I've also seen those cool systems where you have a small touch-screen panel where you can control all your systems, replacing the stack of remotes. That is what I want!

The remote is often a topic of discussion in our house. You frequently hear, "Who's got the remote?" or "Where did the remote go?" Many times it slips and falls between the cushions on the sofa or chair. I usually keep the main remote in one spot, but have a decorative small chest that includes my collection of remotes. I generally must spend several minutes looking for the remote after my nephews leave though. They frequently will carry the remote out of the room with them (if they can get away with it) because they don't want their channel changed -- leaving you to sit and watch the commercials and unable to mute the sound. Do you even remember how to change the channel without the remote? If you just change the TV's channel, you'll often lose everything when dealing with cable/satellite/DVR boxes. I often need a "finder" or a "locator" for the remote.

At my Mom's house the entertainment system is quirky. There are multiple remotes and multiple ways to turn on the television and select a channel. However, we've learned that there is only ONE CORRECT way to do it. The challenge is learning and remembering that correct way. I wish Dad had written down those instructions for us all. Maybe it's time for a change. We need someone to evaluate how things are installed and make it easier. You know when it's wrong -- there is a familiar, awful little "pop" related to the surround sound system, followed by the voice of Mom down the hall reminding us there is a proper way to turn on the tv. Now, I usually just ask her to turn it on and keep it on until she turns it off.

Today I found a video about a group of guys who tried to create the ultimate universal remote -- a remote to not only turn on the tv, but one that would put their hot dogs on the grill and open their beer. You can see a video about this ultimate remote here:

As posted on YouTube by remotedisasters

Ride, Sally Ride

2008-06-17T23:03:00.010-05:00

Today I'm celebrating the first American woman in space

On this date in 1983 astronaut Sally Ride became the first American woman in space. At that time she was also the youngest American to enter outer space. She was 1 of 8,900 people to answer a newspaper ad seeking applicants for the space program. She joined NASA in 1978 and spent 343 hours in space. After retiring from NASA she became the president and CEO of Sally Ride Space, a company founded in 2001 to create entertaining science programs and publications for upper elementary and middle school students, with an particular focus on girls. You can hear Sally Ride talk about her selection for the NASA crew on YouTube.

Sorry, you may think this is corny, but I can't help but think of the song "Mustang Sally" when I hear Sally Ride's name. You can watch Running with Scissors perform the song on this blogpost:

As posted on YouTube by MisterGrizz

Today I wonder if Dr. Sally Ride ever thought about buying a Mustang. Of course, she had a bigger dream -- all she wanted to do was ride but around the world, that is! As nice as a Mustang is, it will not get you where Sally Ride wanted to ride. Dream big!

Image credit: britannica.com

A carbon copy

2008-06-15T21:04:00.006-05:00

Happy Father's Day!

When we all go back home for the family vacation, my brother and I will almost daily here words like:
You remind me so much of your Dad
I can see your Dad in your eyes
You look just like your Dad
Your son is a carbon copy of your Dad at that age

It seems to be a joy to those who were so close to your father to see his look in your eyes, to hear the similarity in the voice, to see his walk or the way he talked, or to recognize the wit or sense of humor. Even after our Dad's are gone, we can often feel them close at hand. You can almost hear the quiet word of warning or the whisper of encouragement. It's amazing how close we still can feel, seeing him through the faces and lives of our loved ones. We see his likes, his dislikes, and the many traits passed on through the kids.

Today, I thought of the Rodney Atkins song "Watching You" and you can see the music video from this blogpost today. This song reminds us that our children are often carbon copies of our lives -- not only the physical traits that are so recognized, but also the habits and behaviors that we may or may not wish to be portrayed.

As posted on YouTube by BlazingSky2006

Today on Father's Day, a challenge for us all: remember the influence we have in the lives around us. Our sons, daughters, nieces, and nephews are indeed watching us...learning from what we say and what we do...learning from what we don't say and what we don't do as well.

What goes up, must come down

2008-06-06T23:22:00.006-05:00

Today's I'm celebrating Yo-Yo Day

In honor of Donald Duncan's birthday and his phenomenal influence he had in the world of yo, today is celebrated as yo-yo day. The history of yo-yo likely originated in China. Although you may find yo-yos today manufactured in China (unfortunately like so many other products), there is a rich history of yo-yo manufacturing in the US. Duncan built his factory in Luck, Wisconsin. They produced 3,600 wooden yo-yos per hour earning the town the nickname: Yo-yo Capital of the World. They used 1,000,000 board feet per year. Duncan then partnered with Flambeau Plastics Company to produce plastic yo-yos. By 1962, the Duncan Company alone sold a record 45 million yo-yos in a country with only 40 million kids. Duncan Yo-Yo once dominated sales producing 85% of all yo-yos being sold in the US. At its peak production, Duncan produced 60,000 yo-yos per day with 640 employees. In 1965, Duncan lost its trademark on the word yo-yo. Also, tragically in 1965 the Duncan Company was forced into bankrupty. Flambeau bought the "Duncan" name and now manufactures and sells 11 different models of Duncan yo-yos today.

The yo-yo has been a big part of US history and entertainment. In 1968 activist Abbie Hoffman was cited for contempt of Congress for "walking the dog" and in 1974 Richard Nixon made headlines when he yo-yo'd on stage at the opening of the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. In April of 1985 the yo-yo was first taken into space by NASA and again in July 1992. You may have seen yo-yos in a Simpsons or House episode on television. You may have seen an orderly playing with a yo-yo in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest or the yo-yo tricks throughout the Zoolander film. You can see amazing videos of yo-yo competitors today on YouTube.

Yes, even I owned a yo-yo or two during my childhood. However, I was not very successful in mastering the yo-yo. I'm still amazed watching the yo-yo masters, even today. What do I most fondly recall about "yo yo" during those early teen years? You can see in the video below.

Yo Yo by The Osmond Brothers

As posted on YouTube by nurfana

Image credit: mentalacrobatics.com

A mover and a shaker

2008-06-05T00:33:00.010-05:00

Today I'm celebrating the premier of "Hound Dog" by Elvis Presley!

On this date in 1956 Elvis Presley first performed "Hound Dog" to a nationwide television audience on The Milton Berle Show. The controversy of his pelvic gyrations exploded with Berle's network receiving protest letters and the TV critics claiming that Elvis had no talent, criticizing the nonsense lyrics, and claiming his influence on juvenile delinquency. Elvis, who earned the nickname Elvis the Pelvis, was known as a mover and shaker. Presley's "Hound Dog" spent eleven weeks at#1, staying there until replaced by his "Love Me Tender." It is listed #19 on Rolling Stone's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" and is the highest ranked of Presley's eleven entries. The song has also been featured in numerous blockbusters, including American Graffiti, Grease, Forrest Gump, Lilo and Stitch, and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (which you can enjoy in movie theaters today).

You can also enjoy Elvis singing "Hound Dog" on this blogpost:

As posted on Youtube by elpres42

Although this song premiered before my time, it is a song that is very familiar to me and is likely very familiar to you -- one of the most famous songs sung by the infamous mover and shaker.

Image credit: Howstuffworks

Beautiful to view

2008-06-03T21:59:00.012-05:00

Today I'm celebrating Jefferson Davis Day

On this date in 1808, Jefferson Davis, the first and only president of the Confederacy, was born. Beauvoir was the location of his retirement home. Beauvoir, which means beautiful to view, is located in Biloxi, Mississippi, across US Highway 90 from Biloxi Beach. The estate consisted of about 608 acres when he lived there, but is only about 52 acres today. The compound had a cottage-style plantation residence, which faced the Gulf of Mexico, and a botanical garden, a Confederate veterans home, a Confederate Soldier Museum, a historic Confederate cemetary, the Jefferson Davis Library and Museum, and the Tomb of the Unknown Confederate Soldier. It was a beautiful estate with a beautiful view of the Gulf of Mexico along the Biloxi Beach. I've driven by that estate hundreds of times. At one time the house was surrounded by cedars, oaks, and magnolia trees. You could see Spanish moss hanging from many of the large old trees on the property. The home survived Hurricane Camille in 1969. However, during Hurricane Katrina, five out of the seven buildings on the estate were reportedly destroyed. This week, during the start of the hurricane season, I'm reminded of my drives down Highway 90 viewing the damage of Hurricane Camille and Hurricane Katrina. Although it took years, the beachfront revived following Hurricane Camille and life returned. It's an amazing site driving down the coast, viewing the devastation following Hurricane Katrina. The restoration effort is proceeding slowly. I understand that as a US national historical landmark, there will be federal support to repair and rebuild the Beauvoir complex. It's my hope that once again, and very soon, that the drive along Highway 90 will one day again be beautiful to view.

Image credit: Photos by Debra Hess Norris and Betty Fiske, courtesy of the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art

A first for women at the Indy 500

2008-05-25T11:07:00.014-05:00

Today I'm celebrating the Indy 500 and the history being made today!

For the first time in history a woman will drop the green flag to start the Indy 500. Kristi Yamaguchi, reigning winner of Dancing with the Stars and Olympic champion, will have that honor. She is not the only representative of Dancing with the Stars at this event. Helio Castroneves, the prior winner of Dancing with the Stars, has won the Indy 500 twice and is starting in the fourth position. His professional dance partner in that competition, Julianne Hough, has recently transitioned into the country music industry and will be singing the National Anthem at today's race.

I'm very excited about the race. I'm really not cheering for a single driver -- I have several favorites. I'm most excited that Indy Car and Champ Car series have finally united and are both represented in this race. I think it will take a little while for the Champ Car guys to really make their presence known in this crowd. I have favorites from the Indy Car series but I have favorites from Champ Car too. I'm especially fond of Will Power --- who would not be fond of a driver with that name? He was actually the Champ Car rookie of the year in 2006. In April of this year he won the final race of the Champ Car series in Long Beach. He's starting in position 20. Let's see if he has the willpower to race his way up through the crowd. I also have my eyes on the Rahal-Letterman Racing team. Graham Rahal's dad is an Indy 500 winner and is now an owner. Graham is the youngest winning driver in a US open wheel racing event. Graham Rahal is starting in the thirteenth position. I'm also looking at Ryan Hunter-Reay who is also on the Rahal-Letterman team. I must cheer for the hometown guy -- he was born in Dallas but now resides in Florida. Ryan was the 2007 rookie of the year in the Champ Car series.

When you saw this blogpost title, you probably thought the topic was Danica Patrick. There's been so much media hype about her recently, partially due to her first win in Japan. She's actually the US citizen with the fastest qualifying time in the Indy 500. She's accomplished a lot, being the first woman to lead this race. However, I'm not a fan because her antics and what's she marketed as she's gained her positions to the pole. Many think that she's turned back time for women -- and it's hard to think of her as a serious race car driver while looking at all those racey pics of her. What would she think if she saw her racey pics in her competitions' garages with a target drawn on top? I'm instead crossing my fingers for Sarah Fisher, who was the third woman to race in the Indy 500 (behind Janet Guthrie and Lynn St James) and is now a car owner. She's had some challenges financially in getting and staying in the race. I'm also keeping my eye on Milka Duna -- she makes me nervous on the track!

Driver introductions are now in progress. It's less than a half-hour to the start of the best known race in the world! I hope it's a safe race, especially since there were so many crashes during qualifying, when only one car is on the track at a time. When thirty-three cars try to race their way to the front to be the first to cross that famous finish line, it will become much more dangerous. Regardless of the events of the day and the outcome, this year will be an Indy 500 race for the history books.

Image credits: 1st turn at Indy (SPEED channel) and Yamaguchi (Starpulse)

And the envelope please

2008-05-22T23:29:00.008-05:00

Today I'm celebrating Johnny Carson's last time hosting The Tonight Show in 1992.

Johnny Carson hosted The Tonight Show for 30 years. There was rarely a dull moment on that show, starting with the memorable "Heeeeeeeeere's Johnny!" introduction by Ed McMahon and the familiar golf swing as Johnny Carson would end his opening monologue. You may recall the "Stump the Band" segment where Doc Severinson's band would actually create some quirky song during the segment when the obscure one named by an audience member was unknown. You might guess that the highest rated show was Carson's final episode. However, you might not guess that the second-highest rated episode was when Tiny Tim married Miss Vick during the show in December, 1969. It was always an adventure when animals were on the set. One funny video of Carson with the animals has been embed in this blogpost.

As posted on YouTube by dal88

When you hear 'and the envelope please' you might think of the winner of an Academy Award, an award for your favorite singer or band, or even the announcement of the winning American Idol. Go David! ; ) However, if you've seen Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show you'll likely not forget his role as "Carnac the Magnificent" as he played a psychic who clairvoyantly divined the answer to a question contained in a sealed envelope. One example you might recall:

A: "Rose Bowl."

Q: What do you say when it's Rose's turn at the bowling alley?

Silly...yes, but many were funny (but maybe not ones I'd post on my blog). After I've worked on my job for 30 years, I hope that I can also recall the fun and quirky moments that make even worklife worth celebrating.

Sweating the details

2008-05-21T22:29:00.012-05:00

Today I should be sweating to National Employee Health and Fitness Day!

After working almost twelve hours today and scrambling to figure out what I would do for dinner and how I'd fit everything on my plan for the evening in the short remaining hours, I began to sweat the details. Well, that could also be due to the 95+ degree heat of the day here too. I looked on the calendar thinking how late I am on my blogposts and noticed today's holiday. Today is National Employee Health and Fitness Day. I was reminded of my Mom's gentle 'urging' just last night to stop work on time and hit the health club. I also then recalled two nagging reminders in my InBox about the very topic. My company reimburses employees a small portion of our healthcare premiums if we participate in employee health and fitness programs. Well, of course, I am running late in completing the work required to get the rebates. As I was sweating the completion of the presentation for tomorrow's meeting, the 2008 budget outlook, and a preliminary plan for 2009, I should have been sweating to the oldies, burning shoe rubber on my treadmill, or banking some miles on the bike. I'm not a big fan of sweating, but I definitely need to make this a priority, right away!

Here are a few of my favorite quotes about sweating:

Nothing but blood, toil, tears,and sweat ~Winston Churchill
Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things ~ George Carlin
Nobody ever drowned in his own sweat ~Ann Landers
Rule number one is, don't sweat the small stuff. Rule number two is, it's all small stuff .(disputed)
A dream doesn't become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work. ~Colin Powell
Sweat plus sacrifice equals success. ~Charlie Finley

These are definitely some things to think about --- either while toiling over the project plan deadlines or on the treadmill. Oh, the balancing act required to be successful in all these areas. I'm definitely going to feel like a slug if I mess up and don't get those rebates. Thinking of slugs, I found a cute video to remind me not to be a slug about this!

Gonna make slugs sweat

As posted on YouTube by chu2007

Image credit: Tennessee Dept. of Health

What else is there to say?

2008-05-11T20:59:00.005-05:00

Applause today to Anita Renfroe for her "The Mom" song, sung to the William Tell Overture!

In thinking about the years under Mom's roof, you'll likely recall many of her instructions and words of wisdom. If your memory is a little vague, her instructions will likely become much clearer when listening to Anita Renfroe sing her "The Mom" song. Regardless of your generation, there is likely to be many phrases that will seem very familiar to you. On this holiday that we celebrate our Moms, you'll likely chuckle when you hear those familiar words sung by Anita Renfroe.

You can hear "The Mom" song on this blogpost today:

As posted on YouTube by joeschoi

Image credit: Brent Humphreys/Redux for The New York Times

Her giving never ends

2008-05-11T15:42:00.008-05:00

Today I'm celebrating Mother's Day

On this day we set aside aside some extra time to celebrate our Moms. The lady who is responsible for your very life. Even though she's busy at work, at home helping Dad, and at church, she's often volunteering her time at school too. She's not only your Mom, she's a coach, a volunteer, a friend, and even a superhero. A Mom's work is never done.

Here's just a very few of the special things my Mom did:

showed the way
helped each day
we could never repay
knelt with us each night as we'd pray

wiped away the tears
calmed the fears
led the cheers
listened with open ears

came to me when I was sick
knew just what made me tick
had the camera ready to take each pic
got along well with a city slick or even a country hick

wiped my fevered brow
explained the what, why, and how
set boundaries on what to allow
even though I may have wanted it now

held my head when I was ill
calmly helped me learn to swallow the first pill
managed the budget and every bill
made my favorite homemade pickles---sweet, not dill

taught me how to cook
helped me find every lost book
everyone else was first before she took
helped me even bait every hook

taught us how to bake
as we weekly made Grandpa his cake
made it from scratch--no mix, no fake
always one of the best, he'd ask we make

while standing on a stool we'd wash each dish
talking with mom about a wish
she's great at frying our favorites - shrimp and catfish
oh those times passed fast, with a swish

such a challenge, all can see
how can anyone like Mom be?
thinking of the great times with glee
my Mom, she means so much to me!

I love you Mom! Thanks for everything you do!

Image credit: HybridMom

It's the real thing

2008-05-08T23:42:00.006-05:00

Today I'm celebrating "Have a Coke Day"

Coca-cola is definitely my favorite carbonated soft drink. I'm such a serious fan that if I had to drink a Pepsi, then I'd rather just do without a beverage. Coke is also my favorite source of caffeine, besides chocolate, that is. On any early Saturday morning at the ballpark watching my nephews play baseball, you may hear me say "I prefer my caffeine cold" and you won't catch me with one of those iced coffee drinks either. If I can't have a Barq's root beer in the bottle (a Southern favorite), then give me a Coke. And, give me the real thing -- the original classic version.

It's especially challenging to travel on business in some areas around NY / CT, "smack in the middle" of Pepsi country. It's sometimes difficult to find a real Coca-Cola in the vending machines or restaurants in that area. If I'm traveling in the area, I always hope that I have a rental car so that I can drop by a convenience store to buy my supply of Coke while there. When I find a real Coke machine, you might catch me buying a couple to stash in my computer case to take back to the hotel with me.

In the South, the term "coke" often has a broader meaning than what you'd think. It is often used in a generic sense to refer to any carbonated beverage or soft drink. You may hear, "You want a coke? what kind?" --- and they are not just talking about Diet Coke, Cherry Coke, Coca-Cola Zero, Vanilla Coke, or any other Coca-Cola product. There may actually be an entire selection of various soft drink brands available, and not only those from the Coca-Cola company either. That likely wouldn't happen in most other areas of the country though -- where you may be asked if you'd like a soda, pop, or a soft drink. (A true give-away that you're really not from the South would be asking for soda or pop.)

When you think about great commercials, there are several Coke commercials that many will recall. Here are two from the past that I hope you will enjoy again:

"I'd like to teach the world to sing"

As posted on YouTube by desireless

One with Mean Joe Green

As posted on YouTube by Upstroker1

Today, I hope that you enjoy your day --- Have a Coke and a smile!

The first real protection for women

2008-05-05T21:31:00.008-05:00

Today I'm celebrating the first patent awarded to a female in the US

The Patent Act of 1790 opened the door for people to protect their inventions with a patent. However, because in many states women could not legally own property independent of their husbands, many women inventors never filed for patents to protect their inventions. On May 5, 1809, Mary Kies was the first woman to receive a US patent. She obtained a patent for her method of weaving straw with silk and thread. Using her new method, Mary Kies could make and sell her hats and, according to US law, no one else could sell any created just like hers.

Have you ever invented anything? I once invented a practical teaching tool to use during my segment of a group presentation scheduled in one of my graduate classes. I once taught secondary mathematics for one year in a high school in south Texas and also caught computer programming while a graduate student at Texas A&M University. I thought that the tool I developed would have been useful to me in my former teaching jobs. I demonstrated my invention and obtained some feedback from a couple of my friends who were currently teachers. I refined the design a bit. Then, my friends helped me to create enough of the tools to use in the classroom. The tool proved to me to be very useful for its purpose. Upon completion of the group presentation, the professor generally asked questions and offered feedback to the group members. He asked three questions about my segment:

Tonya, did you create this tool that was used today? Yes, I replied
Has anyone in this room ever seen a tool similar to what Tonya used today? no one
How many people in this room would use Tonya's tool in their classrooms? all

The professor then had one comment: Tonya, I hope that you leave this classroom tonight and immediately work on your patent. Of course, I was very surprised to hear the feedback about my tool, but was very excited too. For awhile in my spare time (which was quite limited since I was working full-time while attending graduate school for my PhD), I did a little work to investigate the possibilities of a patent. I scoured numerous education product catalogs looking for a tool similar to mine (finding none) and performed a small patent search. It indeed appeared that I had created a tool that actually did not exist. My preliminary market research seemed supportive too: feedback from my teacher friends, plus an entire classroom of teachers with significant experience supporting my tool. However, I also became aware of the time and cost to obtain a patent, especially when I did not really have any plans for manufacturing. I was so busy in my career and trying to complete my graduate work that I let those challenges overcome me. Unfortunately, it would not be the first time to be accused of having a great idea, but not following through. I still have my file that describes my invention and about once a year I look at the neat invention and wonder what-if. I still have not seen anything similar to it and still believe that it would be a popular, useful tool for teachers.

Today, my learning of Mary Kies' achievement has definitely got me thinking again about my own invention. Perhaps I should put my project management skills into action and develop an action plan to protect the idea and to actually make it available to educators today. After all, since I've practically lost most of my pension (it was recently frozen) and all the medical retiree benefits that I had planned to enjoy after 30 years of dedicated service, I may need the profits from the sale of the product based on my invention for my retirement years.

Image credit: The Library of Congress