In the land of bumper stickers

I enjoy reading some of the bumper stickers that people have on their cars. I don't have any, I just don't like the cluttered look. I've seen some that were silly, some that were naughty, some that were plain and some that were odd.

We've all seen the honor roll ones... and the proud to be an American ones... but on my way into work this morning I saw one that said, "Proud to be a Union Sprinkler Fitter". Now, no offense to the unionized sprinkler fitters out there.... but is that really the bumper sticker you want to go with on your car?

May your weekend move along swimmingly.

The other day I found myself using swimmingly and thought that it might be a less known adverb. Then, ERiCa used it in one of her blog posts recently. Then, my daughter asked me what "swimmingly" meant. Apparently, it's said on Flushed Away. All of this in the last week or so. I know what it means, but it did get me thinking... where the heck did that word come from. I mean, "swimmingly" , it's an odd word to use as adverb - don't you think?

So, I did a little bit of investigation. I say little bit... because, well, it's Friday and I've been known to get easily distracted on a Friday afternoon. Without further delay, here is what I now know about the mysterious word.

Swimmingly: Great ease, progress, without difficulty or effort.

We can see that it uses swim. I figured that swim came before swimmingly. Yes, I have mad powers of deduction. Swim seems to come from the Middle English swimmen or Old English swimman (akin to Old High German). The dating that I could find places it before the 12th century.

Then I tried to see if I could find out when "swimmingly" may have entered our vocabulary. The only dating I could find mentioned the 1600's.

I found some references to it in classic literature.

Thanks to this inspiration, he got on swimmingly for a time, but gradually the work lost its charm, and he forgot to compose, while he sat musing, pen in hand, or roamed about the gay city to get some new ideas and refresh his mind, which seemed to be in a somewhat unsettled state that winter.
Little Women by Alcott, Louisa May

She had a turn for narrative, I for analysis; she liked to inform, I to question; so we got on swimmingly together, deriving much entertainment, if not much improvement, from our mutual intercourse.
Jane Eyre by Bronte, Charlotte

Friday Fun with Blogthings

Your Pirate Name Is...

Dirty Neck Snapper Nellie

What's Your Pirate Name?

You Are A Fig Tree

You are very independent and strong minded. A hard worker when you want to be, you play hard too. You are honest and loyal. You hate contradiction or arguments. You love life, and you live for your friends, children, and animals. A great sense of humor, artistic talent, and intelligence are all gifts you possess.

What's Your Celtic Horoscope?

In a Past Life...

You Were: A Lazy Herbalist. Where You Lived: Quebec. How You Died: The Plague.

Who Were You In a Past Life?

Thursday’s Link Love!

I’ve got a few sites I wanted to share with you.

The spicy link of the week: Tshirt Hell. I’d never been there before and my husband said I had to stop by. Man, I laughed so hard over some of those shirts. Site does include mature content.

The “get together” link of the week: Blog Writers & Artists Network is a fairly new Ning community and it’s got some very nice folks as members (like me!) Stop by, check it out, stay awhile.

For moms, Felicia linked to True Mom Confessions. If you’ve ever had one of those moments when a crazy thought or feeling comes across your mind and you need to just get it out – True Mom Confessions provides an anonymous sounding board of mom confessions. Just reading through what others have “confessed” makes me feel a little better about my “momness”.

A moment for some shameless friend promotion: My friend Susan has been nominated for a variety of Bloggers Choice Awards . If you haven’t voted or don’t have your own favorites, check her out (and vote for her!). Another friend, Laughing Muse, is in the running to get paid to blog for a year , she just needs votes!

What Movie Are YOU like?

I was surfing through my usual blog spots and saw that Sophisticated Writer had a fun little blog quiz. She's Apocalypse Now.... I'm:

What Classic Movie Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

Visual DNA

Spot of T had this on her blog and it is awesome!

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

A Thursday HAHA

A writer comes home to a burned down house. His sobbing and slightly-singed wife is standing outside.

“What happened, honey?” the man asks.

“Oh, John, it was terrible,” she weeps. “I was cooking, the phone rang. It was your agent. Because I was on the phone, I didn’t notice the stove was on fire. It went up in second. Everything is gone. I nearly didn’t make it out of the house. Poor Fluffy is...”

“Wait, wait. Back up a minute,” The man says. “My agent called?”

What do your dreams mean?

What Your Dreams Mean...

Your dreams seem to show that you're a bit disturbed... but nothing serious. You may have a problem you're trying to work out in your sleep. Overall, you are very content in your life. You tend to be a very productive thinker. Your dreams tend to reflect your insecurities. You have a very vivid imagination and a rich creative mind. You secretly want to hide your dreams from your waking mind.

What Do Your Dreams Mean?

Friday Fun, what poetry form are you?

The other day I actually posted a poem. It's probably the first poem I've written in... well, I'm thinking years. My brain just doesn't seem to function well on a poetic avenue. Ah well, I found this little blog quiz:

I'm the lai, with no sort Of grave, solemn thought, And I Will never be caught By miseries sought, Nor sigh; Where battles are fought Or arguments brought, I fly. What Poetry Form Are You?

I have no idea what this means. I think it means that I like chocolate and B rated horror flicks; that I have a dark sense of humor and am argumentative... or maybe it means I try to avoid arguments. And, I'm a "lai" - awesome.

Blog Fun!

Apparently, one of my coworkers is working just as hard as I am on this fine Tuesday afternoon. He sent me the link to this little tidbit:

How to make a Rashenbo

Ingredients: 5 parts anger 1 part silliness 5 parts instinct

Method: Stir together in a glass tumbler with a salted rim. Top it off with a sprinkle of lustfulness and enjoy!

Username:

Personality cocktail
From Go-Quiz.com

Personally... I think I'm 5 parts silliness and only 1 part anger... I rarely get angry... but when I do... I may, just possibly, get a little irrational. But don't tell my husband I admitted that.

Grammar Flammar! Poetic Silliness

Oh, woe is me or is it I?

Here I sit, while I brood.
Crap, my writing, just isn’t good.

The easiest to use are nouns!
Like Bob and John and Mary Sue,
but what about those pesky pros?
Like he and they and she and it,
I tell you, I just can’t keep them straight.

The comma, well, it’s just hell.
Where it belongs – I can never tell.
I stick one here and stick one there.
As a reader, I’m sure that you don’t care.

The run-ons last long enough for tea.
Those fragments, well, they add some Joie de Vie.

Diagram a sentence?
Pfft, that’s just a nuisance.

Voice, tone, style - really, these don’t matter.
What’s that, you want to make a wager?

Fine, I’ll make a proclamation!
If not in print, I’ll be like Meika and go for self-publication!

Those agents, editors and English teachers –
Why they are all just uptight.

I’ve decided. My prose, well, it’s all just right!

Ok, I admit it. My skills at poetry rank a 0 on a 0-10 meter! However, I read You Think Grammar is the Amish Word for Your Mom's Mom and what can I say.... inspiration struck. I'm sure you're all glad I'm not an aspiring poet though!

I really planned on thinking about writing an entry for the Creative Carnival on Write Stuff. But two problems are keeping me from doing it... 1) My muse just isn't giving me a very creative angle for it and 2) I'm supposed to be working right now! :D

451 Buzz: Comments for Cash

I got an email last night from fellow blogger, Chirky. A lovely lady, I met her back in November when she assisted in some of the NaNoBloMo reviews.

She also writes for 451 press and has a blog focused toward, Britney Spears. Have you checked out 451 press? It's not a bad blog community. They've got some interesting blogs there. I definitely had to check out the ones for House and Heroes.

Anyhoo, 451 has launched a little marketing campaign to increase readers. During the month of January, commenters of 451 blogs will be entered in a contest. Randomly selected winner gets $500 bucks and then a few others will get $100 each. All you have to do to enter is comment. It also looks like 451 has some openings for blog writers. I see they don't have one for American Idol yet. If I had the time for another blog I'd probably jump on that one... but perhaps one of you would be interested.

I love blogthings!

There's nothing like taking a break from a busy day at work and taking a frivolous little blog quiz.

Your Personality Is Like Acid

A bit wacky, you're very difficult to predict. One moment you're in your own little happy universe... And the next, you're on a bad trip to your own personal hell!

What Drug Is Your Personality Like?

Oh man... insect just commented and I followed the link and ended up on a blog... this post right here: blogger found dead slumped over keyboard has to be one of the best articles I've read recently.

Even the clown prince celebrates Christmas.

The cookies are baked. The presents from mom and dad are wrapped... the count down has begun.

However, Boudreaux (aka the clown prince) got to celebrate a little early and got his present from the Pea Pie today around 1:00 this afternoon.

The Pea Pie, the clown prince and Ralph.

He really loves his new friend...

He loves him A LOT... in fact, Ralph suffered severe trauma after only a few hours of play and needed emergency surgery. We hope he survives the night!

Note the lovely PJ's on the Pea Pie? That's the Christmas Eve gift and she's anxiously waiting for dark time. She just knows Santa will be peeking in her window as soon as it's dark enough!

TT: Happy Birthday To Mememe

Thirteen Things about Rashenbo #3
TT Edition #72 12/21/06

Today is my birthday. So, I'll just make a post for 13 all about me and my presents and whatever tickles my fancy.

1. From my husband: A Keurig Special Edition B60 coffee pot. It's one of these machines that has little cups and I can have coffee... and tea... and hot chocolate... it's SOOO cool.

2. My husband was reading my blog and saw a reference to the new Lecter book... so he got me: (I'll be following up with a review soon!)

3. The next thing my husband got me is a $15.00 gift certificate to itunes to get more music for my ipod!!! :) What should I get? No folk... no rap...

4. My mother is sending me a $100 gift certificate to Michael's to buy some scrapbooking supplies so I can try my hand at scrapbooking... course... I may not actually buy scrapbooking supplies *wink*

5. Work gave me the panic day from hell. I had this great idea that I'd wake up, get the kids on the bus, then slide back in bed and sleep in till 8:30 and then wake up, shower and THEN get to work... but no... 7:30 I get a crisis call and ended being the flame controller on about a dozen issues till about 5:40 this evening. Nothing like your morning shower at 6pm and boy did I need that shower. There is a reason deodorant exists.

6. A birthday memory from my past... I remember my 18th birthday so well. First off, it was the first birthday with my husband. He bought me the crappiest sweater he could find. Wow... it was terrible, I nearly shocked myself to death it built up so much static with its fake chenille (sic?) powers. Anyway, my mother gave me the best Christmas card ever that year... it was a rip off of a romance book and I laughed so hard. I still remember that card. Then she made me my FAVORITE cake - devil's food cake with cherry pie filling and then iced with melted hershey bars... oh yeah. Unfortunately, I had the flu. In true teenager fashion - I couldn't let it hold me back. I remember throwing up in the kitchen sink moments before I strolled out the door to spend the evening with my boyfriend and friends at a party. (Yes.... I wasn't nearly as smart then as I am now. I also recovered so much faster.)

7. One year I really, REALLY, wanted a particular book. I believe it was a Dean Koontz book... anyway. My mom gives me my present and I'm totally excited... I rip off the paper and I say, "oh yes, I wanted this. Thank you, mo..." and then I looked at the cover... it was a book I ALREADY HAD! Oh... the pain. I tried not to let my face show my expression... I know I failed my mom said, "what? I thought that was the one you wanted - you were so excited." And then... she started laughing her ass off and told me to open it up. It was the book I wanted and she grabbed the book cover off my old book and switched it. All she could say through her laughter was, "you should have seen your face".

8. My 21st birthday was six weeks after the birth of my first daughter. If you've delivered children you know what the six week mark signifies... nuff said.

9. This year I got myself a new blog layout. I really like it... What do you think?

10. I signed myself up for a membership at Backspace The Writer's Place.

11. Anyone who has a birthday so close to Christmas knows the joy that is the "combined gift". Yeah... you gift givers know who you are... Hi Rashenbo... I hear it's your birthday... Happy Birthday AND Merry Christmas... here's a mug for ya, it's for both ha ha ha. I'm over it now and really don't mind... but it's tough on the kiddos and teens can be real resentful of it. Even if they tell you it's ok. Unless it's a car, or a trip to Paris, or a new computer... it's not ok...

12. I came home on Christmas day, December 25th, 1976 in a large red stocking from the hospital. My mother still has that stocking in her hope chest. I have my very first winter cap... it's this red knitted thing - it's in my cedar chest... with my signed Spiderman comic... yes, it was the REAL spiderman, not some faker dressed in costume... :P~~~~

13. I'm really looking forward to my year in the realm of "30". I think it's an interesting place and I am looking forward to meeting my fellow 30'ers. Naturally, we are the best age ever... as anyone born in 1976 knows. Those other years only want to be as cool as we are... and if you didn't know... that's the year of the DRAGON... by far the coolest. You tigers just think you are cool. Neiner, neiner, neiner.

Oh, I found this great site today and I wanted to share this blogger with you guys. His blog is awesome. I think I'll keep him for my own and call him George. I was laughing so hard I almost snorted my beer... and that would NOT have been good... although, it might have made for an interesting post! :)

I hate Mondays.

Yup, it's true. My least favorite day of the week. When I was a kid there were two things I really collected: Mad Magazine and the Garfield comic strip books.... Garfield hated Mondays too...

Don't be deceived... Mondays are rarely a nice day.

What Tarot Card Are You?

I love these little tests!

You are The Magician

Skill, wisdom, adaptation. Craft, cunning, depending on dignity.

Eleoquent and charismatic both verbally and in writing,
you are clever, witty, inventive and persuasive.

The Magician is the male power of creation, creation by willpower and desire. In that ancient sense, it is the ability to make things so just by speaking them aloud. Reflecting this is the fact that the Magician is represented by Mercury. He represents the gift of tongues, a smooth talker, a salesman. Also clever with the slight of hand and a medicine man - either a real doctor or someone trying to sell you snake oil.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

I'm a featured TT blog today!

YAY! Here I am... trapped to my phone. I had an hour and a half long client call this morning (before breakfast)... then a 45 minute call training a new employee... and now, my timer says I'm at 131.39 minutes on another client call. My brain is leaking. My neck is totally stiff. I just want to take the phone and bang it against the desk... I pop over to check my email and I'm getting notes congratulating me on being a featured blog... I'm like, huh?

Look! Thursday Thirteen featured me as a 1st timer blog on the TT! WOoo.

Isn't it silly how something basic can give you a great big smile and make your day seem better? I think I'm good for at least another 30 minutes now!!!

So thank all of you with the TT who have visited, commented... and helped me be a featured blog today.

Yay! Ooo and the Thursday Thirteen has a forum now. I love forums!

MuHaHaHahaaaaaa!

I blame solipsistic scribbling:


How evil are you?

My sleeping pose!

Wow... these online quizzes will just tell you everything! I love em... I'm really going through the W blogs. I promise. You can thank Waking Jonas for this little distraction!

Find your own pose!