Dancing with the stars

Have you heard of this new show? I know most of you guys aren't into reality TV, but this looks kind of fun! We should check it out tomorrow, Melodee. Maybe your parents would like it too. Who knows?!? I have a feeling that it will involve a lot more DRAMA then dancing, but I think it's worth a look. What do you think?

Melodee says:

Sounds fun, let's try it out! I've never watched a reality TV show before! But you know how I love dancing. . . :)

Anna says...

Hmm...I don't know about that Andrea, a reality show about dancing? I mean, Survivor is bad enough. ;-) It kind of reminded me of Strictly Ballroom though!

Andrea says...

Survivor is bad enough?!?! I'm going to pretend you did NOT just say that...

There's no place like home

Lately, I’ve notice a kind of “listing” trend on blogs that I read, so I thought I would follow suit. I went home for Memorial weekend. (Side note: Even though I really do consider Billings my home, I still refer to my parents' house as “home”. Why is that? Are we allowed to call two places home?) I was looking forward to the weekend so much….and it didn’t fail to deliver. So, here are a few things that I love about my Big Timber home:

• Sitting in a lawn chair wrapped in an old quilt and listening to the choir of meadowlarks and other miscellaneous birds at 5:30 AM….and then going back to bed.


• My mom’s cooking. I’m STILL stuffed.


• Late night sessions of flossing teeth, plucking eyebrows and washing faces with my sister while everyone else is in bed. That sounds a little weird, but it has become one of my favorite traditions when we are both home. Why is it that we have our best conversations in the bathroom with hushed tones?


• Two words: Prospector Pizza


• Iced Tea. I’m not sure why I never drink it at my house.


• Being able to look out the window and see for miles in every direction.


• Letting my puppy run free and chase rabbits and tennis balls without worrying about him. It’s ridiculous how happy just running around makes him.


• Four wheeling (although the weather was a little too crummy to do it this weekend)


• Congregating in the kitchen not because we’re hungry but because eating is just SO FUN!


• Karaoke (yeah, we’re total nerds)


• Parents, Grandparents, Siblings, Neighbors, Old Friends. That is really general, but all these people make me laugh a lot.

Melodee says:

What a lovely post, thank you! I love pondering the "little things" in life that are so wonderful. Thanks for sharing yours.

Quote of the day

I just dropped my good buddy Matthew off at the airport to take off on a month and a half adventure in Europe. (jealous?) As a kind of "last hurrah", we had to stop at Krispy Kreme so that he could get his fix. He went in wanting two doughnuts and came out with a half dozen. He forced me to eat one and when I refused to eat a second one, he angrily shoved the fifth one in his mouth and proclaimed through a mouthful of ooey gooey goodness, "I am NOT enjoying this." All of you that know Matthew - this is your cue to smile and roll your eyes. Oh, did I mention that he consumed 3 of the doughnuts before leaving the parking lot and the other 2 within 3 blocks?

Bon Voyage Matthew. I truly wish you a great trip!

Melodee says:
Why would a person want to make themselves sick right before going on a plane for who knows how many hours? :) Nonetheless, I hope he got over it and is having a great trip! I hope he meets up with Amanda in London! I guess we'll know soon enough if he did.

Anna says...
So by now, both Amanda and Matthew should be in London! I'm a little envious...

Andrea says...
I just talked to Matthew (via Yahoo Messenger) and he made it safe and sound. He was headed to the Les Miserables theater to see if he could catch up with Amanda. That's so cool...

Films

Random Mind tagged me to do a film meme, so here I go! I love these little things

Total number of films I own on DVD/Video:
Hmm...without actually going to my video drawers, I would estimate probably about 30 videos and 15 DVDs. I kind of have a problem spending money on too many because there is rarely a movie that I find worth the unreal amount that stores like to charge. But, thanks to eBay, my collection is growing. I also just joined Blockbuster online, so I'm hoping that my movie-spending will actually be reduced.

The last film I bought:I just bought Mansfield Park and Shall We Dance off of eBay and I'm anxiously awaiting their arrival.

The last film I watched:
The Royal Tenenbaums - It wasn't my favorite. I was expecting too much because so many people I know love it.

Five films that I watch a lot or that mean a lot to me (in no particular order):
1. Pride and Prejudice - (the Firth/Ehle version) - Isn't this on EVERYONE'S list?? I'm in a constant state of watching this one. I have it on VHS, but I hope to get it on DVD soon.

2. The Scarlet Pimpernel - This was one of my favorite in high school and I was reintroduced a while back by my fellow kindred spirits. Percy Blakeney is THE perfect man.

3. The Princess Bride - This the most quotable movie that was ever made. I could start quoting now, but I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to quit.

4. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy - I know this is technically three movies, but I'm using it anyway! These were my favorite books in high school and the movies are worthy to the story. I think J.R. would approve (for the most part).

5. The Thorn Birds - Another favorite from my high school days. It's a great soap opera type movie - Unrequited love, illegitimate children, broken vows. Great stuff.

Now, I tag Anna, Brooke and Brian. Ready...GO!

KaramojaAmanda Update (click here)

Back to school

This whole week I have been going to a Microsoft SQL Server training course instead of going to work every day. Eight hours of learning about indexing, constraints and triggers. It actually is kind of fun. It's pretty cool to learn something that you KNOW you can apply at your job (which is seldom the case with college courses.) It's been weird having to shift my brain into learning mode again. My head is kind of tired of having junk stuffed into it and me frantically trying to retain it all. Today was especially rough with crunching numbers to try to figure out the best way to optimize your query. I walk out and I'm pretty much worthless for the rest of the day. I'm now understanding better your girls' situation where you are shifting from school to a full-time job. It's HARD to change over! It's like working out different muscles in your brain. Well, I don't know about y'all, but my brain muscles are SORE. I'm looking forward to the long weekend...

Real Men Read Austen

That's the title of the first chapter of Peter Leithart's book on Jane Austen. In a recent discussion on Pemberley, someone was bemoaning how tedious it is to keep arguing with men that Jane Austen is not "chick lit." Here's a response from William L - a delightful old man who always makes me laugh with every post:

Don't bother arguing with idiots. If anybody wants to know of men who were Jane Austen lovers, here's a few: Gilbert Keith Chesterton; Disraeli (read P&P 17 times); Mark Twain; William L here from ROP who has read P&P more than 17 times.

Chick Lit? My old wazoo. I'm a WWII veteran, had a career of more than 30 years in steel mills, played football in high school, and shoot pistols for fun.

He's wrong about Mark Twain, but there are many others he could have added to the list. Others like C.S. Lewis, for example, who said, "I've been reading Pride and Prejudice on and off all my life and it doesn't wear out a bit."

Check out what famous men have said about Jane Austen here. And if you really want to know (you don't) you can check out what some famous women ought not to have said. . . (Charlotte Bronte's meanness is about half-way down.)

Andrea says:
Melodee, in light of our conversation tonight about love and all that junk, this totally enforces your point. If you want to be a real man, you MUST read Austen. (Not Nicholas "girly-man" Sparks)

"My Life Doesn't Need Any Extra Drama"

This is kind of fun - Take a look at Kate Winslet's American Express commercial here. At first I didn't get it, but if you think about her real life it all makes perfect sense. :)

I think commercials are better than they used to be. (At least some commercials!)

As we ate lunch a few minutes ago, Melodee very wisely suggested that I post something on here today, so that Andrea doesn't kill me the next time she sees me. I'm taking her advice.

So, I have a question for you all...

When you read articles on the internet, do you prefer for links that you click on to open in a new browser, or the same one? (Means you have to click back to finish reading...but, also means less windows.) What about if you are shopping online? (If I click on something that takes me to a new page in the same window, I usually get so sidetracked that I forget to click the back button...) I am working on articles and product pages on our website this week and I haven't decided which is best to use. I appreciate any suggestions you might have.

Ignoring that fact that this was incredibly boring, and not very kindred spirity at all, I hope you will appreciate that I actually *gasp* posted something, Andrea. ;-)

Melodee says:
I prefer links to open a new window.

Andrea says:
REALLY, Anna, you're being a little melodramatic, aren't you?? You think I would resort to "killing" you??? Hmm....(I'm shaking my head in disapproval) *wink*

As for the link opening issue, I have mixed feelings. It all depends on what kind of link it is. For example, if it is a link to a product, I say open it up in a new window, but if it is a link to the next page of a list of products, I say open it in the same window. Link to your shopping cart - new window. Link to checkout - same window. It's a tough decision. Try googling it. There has to be a list of "link standards" out there somewhere. (Wow, I can actually FEEL the geekiness dripping off my fingers on to the keyboard) And by the way, Anna, that is a VERY good question. It isn't a boring thing to blog about at all!

Anna says...
No, Melodee said you would kill me. I was only quoting her. Thanks for the ideas, and unfortunately, I fear that you were the only one who felt like it wasn't boring. I could just SEE the geekiness dripping off your fingers. It's great!

help

Melodee I have to choose a humaities course. I have it narrowed down to 2 classes ENGL 260 World Foundations of Literature or
MUSC 341Music History 1750 to Present. Which would you recommend? Please answer today if you could. I need your input.

Melodee says:
Who is teaching World Lit? I liked it, but I had it from the best lit. prof on campus. I know that's not who you'll have, because he's going on sabbatical... *sigh* Generally the reading assignments are very manageable, and there is no paper. The quality of the class discussion will just depend on the prof.

Music History is a great class, but it is very heavy on the memorization, and you may have to write a research paper (I did, but the class last fall didn't). Most of the tests also have a short essay, but she gives you the exact topic about a week beforehand. Dorothea (Anya's piano teacher) teaches it. It covers Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque music - those aren't the easiest time periods of music to study, although it is really fun to listen to!

In sum, World Lit will be easier, but Music History is great fun.

I know that Andrea posted this for me but do you all like my rockin new picture for my profile. It is Takeshi Kaneshiro. He is a Jepanese/Chinese filmstar/popstar who is from Taiwan. <- brooke said...

Andrea said...
Brooke, I love your new profile pic. It's weird, but bright and hilarious....kind of like you. :)

Hi Ladies

I apologize for not saying anything for a long time. For the present my life is so busy that I barely have time to straighten up my house, and frankly its not very straight. I have been walking in circles stairing at the wonderful grass that God gives us and wishing that it didn't grow so fast. However, as of next week I might get my life back which means I'll be able to see yous guys. I am looking forward to coming to your house on Monday Andrea. About the Star Wars toys I am looking forward to getting some of the light saber-spoons. : )

Oh yeah. I turned out to be Miss Eliza Bennet too. Hmm.

Hey Andrea I went to Banres & Noble late last night and they had these charming hard bound pocket books with goldleaf and silverleaf. I think they had a copy of Northanber Abbey there. They only cost 5 bucks. I almost bought Emma last night. It's the only JA book I haven't read. They are located on a table buy the cash registers.

Melodee says:
I have a whole Jane Austen set in those cute little hardbacks, Brooke! They fit perfectly in my purse or coat pocket. And the illustrations are close enough to Brock's to be quite charming. And you just can't beat the $4.95. . .

Andrea says:
I'm looking forward to seeing you tomorrow too Brooke! It'll be a grand time. Hey, bring the dress pattern over!

Paper Bag Puppets

Apparently it isn't enough that I've been responding to everything Andrea posts. . . ;) So, since I have absolutely nothing of interest to say, I'll just tell you what I've been up to that has been keeping me from blogging.

I am not a crafty person, but here I am planning crafts for the Peacemaker Puppet Clubs this summer! So far I have modified two crafts from last year and created two new ones. Paper bag puppets anyone? Worldless book bracelets? Picture frames? Magnets? Doorknob hangers? Fun stuff!

I'm not sure why I took this job. A person who hates shopping and hates spending money is now doing both rather prolifically. :) Just now I purchased 240 each of the following:

Squeeze Animal Squirt Gun
Bouncy Ball
Kazoo
Jumping Frog
Blow Ball Game

Now I need to go buy animal crackers for 1200 kids. . .

Doesn't it make you wish you could come to the puppet clubs??

Protest

I'm officially laying down my keyboard in protest until someone else posts something. Do you realize EVERY post on this page is one of mine??

OR....I could just keep posting pictures of my puppy until you all can't take it anymore! Mwaa Ha Ha Haaaa

KaramojaAmanda Update (click here)

Do you realize??

Amanda will be home in two weeks from today! Whoo hoo!!

May the force be with you

My sister called me last night while she was standing in line to see the 12:01 showing of Star Wars Episode III. I'm proud to admit that I completely forgot that today was opening day of the last movie of the never ending epic. Don't get me wrong, I LOVED the original trilogy. They are obvious classics, but Episodes I and II have been disappointments. One of the only good things I can say about the first two episodes is that they did a really good job of making me hate Anakin. The idea of him turning to the dark side ain't so bad knowing him as the whiny brat that he is. But enough about that. In the spirit of Star Wars and my bizarre sense of humor, I'm linking to a hilarious article that OpinionJournal's Best of the Web pointed me to. It's from Waste News. Yeah, that's right. I said Waste News. Here's the best part.

The release of the latest Star Wars movie this week is creating excitement among fans of the sci-fi saga, but its also creating concern among some environmental advocates who fear the Dark Side--in other words, waves of discarded plastic action figures, light sabers and other movie-related paraphernalia headed to landfills.

"We love Star Wars as much as anybody, but it doesnt mean we should emulate the destructive power of the Death Star by harming the environment," said Anne Reichman, director of Earth911.org, an environmental action and information Web site. "Most people dont know that these types of figurines cant be recycled, not even little Yoda. In fact, almost all of these toys will sit in landfills until long after were gone."

[Opinion Journal]And to think, some people don't take environmentalists seriously.

Not even little Yoda! Can you imagine?? I say we all boycott Toys R Us! Whadda ya say??

Melodee says:
Just curious. Did it ever occur to you that Darth Vader's breathing sounds like he's whispering the word "uber?" It didn't to me, but I have a co-worker with an imaginative mind. . . Now I have to see the originals and pay careful attention to the Vader breath.

Andrea says:
LOL! That is hilarious! Now, I'm going to be walking around all day saying "UUUUUUUU-BUUUUURRRRRR". This is gonna be a great Friday! :)

Are you sick of these yet?

Take the Quiz here!

I wasn't aware that I like gothic novels. Hmm...I guess Northanger Abbey should be my next Austen to read.

Thanks Random Mind! Get well soon!!

Melodee says:
Firstly, I'm having a hard time thinking of anyone less like Catherine Morland. . . :) Secondly, that person in the picture pretending to be Henry Tilney is giving me the horrors. UGH. Thirdly, I, dear friends, am Elizabeth Bennet (ha!).

Andrea says:
Really Melodee?? Dumb quiz. But, now you have me intriqued. I REALLY have to read that next now! But, I'm not sure how I feel about your results. I guess I can see a little of the head strong Lizzie in you. Just a little, though. *wink*

Wet? I'm not wet!!

Anna says...
CACHE! Hes the best. I love your dog Andrea, even if he does slobber all over me every time I get near him. Thanks for sharing cute pictures of him.

Melodee says:
That picture is ab-so-lute-ly adorable.

"Group" blog, huh?

hmmm.......

Anna says...
Andrea...I am sorry to admit that I have been neglecting this (and every other) blog of late. I beg your forgiveness, and I shall try to do better for the rest of the week (that would be a good start, right?!).

Schnappi, das kleine Krokodil

The hottest thing in German music right now is a 4-year-old girl singing a song about a crocodile. Joy Gruttman's song, "Snappy the Little Crocodile" ("Schnappi, das kleine Krokodil"), was the No. 1 song on the German charts. Her family posted the song on a Web site as a joke, but a radio station in Cologne, Germany, got hold of it and made it a hit. Gruttman is the youngest recording artist to make it to the German Top 10, let alone No. 1. "Snappy" beat out songs by Kylie Minogue and Linkin Park. The song is even appearing as remixes in German dance clubs. Be warned! If you listen to it, it WILL get stuck in your head!

I had to take the plug-in out because too many were having problems with it. If you want to hear the song, you'll have to watch the video.

Watch the video

Click here to see lyric translation

I am Schnappi, the little crocodile,
I live in Egypt, right next to the Nile,
first I lived in an egg,
but then shnapped my way free

chorus
Schni-schna-schnappi schnappi-schnappi-schnapp
.....

I am Schnappi the little crocodile
have sharp teeth and mighty many of them
I shnap what's there to shnap
I shnap and am good at it

chorus

I am Schnappi the little crocodile
I love to shnap, that's my favourite play
I sneak up to mum
and show her how well I shnap

chorus

I am Schnappi the little crocodile
I'm never tired of shnapping
I shnap daddy's leg
and then just fall asleep

chorus

Melodee says:

Very cute, but I think a dance remix would be just a l-ee-tle weird. ;)

Andrea says:

You think the dance version would be weird - you should hear the heavy metal version. Seriously.

Memory Lane

I had a bittersweet weekend. I traveled to Butte to watch four of my best friends graduate from college. I was dreading the trip although I couldn’t really pinpoint why. Probably because it was most likely the last time that I would get together with all four of them until one of us dies or gets married.

It was ok when I graduated and left them two years ago because I was the one that was moving on, not them. I always knew where they were and that I could hop in the car and see all of them in just a couple hours (although I didn’t take advantage of that convenience enough). It was weird going back to the school and walking though the campus and even walking past my old house – all these things that I was so anxious to leave. It was like a secondary “closure” experience that I wasn’t ready for two years ago. A lot of healing had taken place and I could finally look back fondly on my experiences there. It was sad too - with the last of my friends leaving, my connections to the school and the city are all but dissolved. I guess I wasn’t ready for the whole of my college experience to be moved into the “memory” section of my life. As I drove back up Homestake, I finally tearfully pinpointed my fear - I became frightened that my friendships with these guys would become just a “memory” too. I know that happens all the time, but I truly hope that is not the case here – it makes me sad to think about it.

Best of luck to you all, guys! I truly do wish you the best in all your endeavors. I miss all yuz already.

To end on a happy note, I have to mention this: Being the great friend that he is, Matthew helped in making an unforgettable memory. After a great meal of kabobs and some local brew, we decided on an impromptu attempt at the local carnival rides. Spinning around (and around and around) in the Zipper and searching through Matthew’s car for 25 pennies for just ONE more ticket are memories that I can’t help but smile at. Thanks for making the trip a little easier to deal with, Matthew. I’m glad I didn’t lose the kabobs and beer on the Kamikaze. ;)

Melodee says:
Sometimes it is so hard to move on. And yes, it is frightening to think that wonderful friendships may just "fade" into the distance. I hope with you that your relationships with "the guys" will continue for many years. They certainly have been a very special part of your life.

I can just see you and Matthew hunting for those pennies. Oh my. . . :)

KaramojaAmanda Update (click here)

The Jane Austen Book Club

No, I'm not looking to start one. It's a book I just finished. I knew that when I was 50 pages into it and already horribly disappointed that it would take me awhile to get through it. But, I'm one of those OCD people that has to finish a book if I've started it. Dumb, I know. But, I was going to put that money I wasted to SOME use.

So, on with the book bashing. For starters, the book didn't have anything to do with Jane Austen (which is why I bought it). It has to do with a group of worldly women reading Austen and then attempting to talk about what she MEANT by Edward Ferris being so spineless and Knightly being so oppressive and Darcy being so demeaning......yeah, I'm serious. If that wasn't bad enough, the part where they are actually talking about the books only makes up about 5% of the actual book. The rest is stories of the members of the book club, which I think are supposed to parallel the J.A. book that that chapter is on, but I didn't get that.

So, those of you that I have offerred to let borrow the book - I've changed my mind. I'm not going to subject you to that misery. Besides, it's already posted on Ebay.

Melodee says:
Thanks for the review, Andrea. You've saved me from wasting my time with it. I'm already in a huff over Edward being "spineless," Mr. Knightley being "opressive," and Darcy being "demeaning." I hope you make your money back on Ebay!

Oh, and about your OCD-ness, I used to be like that. Mom printed an article for me last year about leaving books unfinished (I tried to find it online for you, but couldn't). It was really freeing, actually. There is so much good stuff to be read; we don't have to slog through trash!

Update from Andrea:
I did sell it on Ebay and for more then I expected!! But, unfortunately, I turned around and re-spent the money on a DVD. Ahhh, Ebay......

Out of the mouths of babes...

Yes, Brooke, we haven't been the chattiest lately. My brain is fried otherwise I would present an argument for Colin's Darcy. Hopefully work will soon stop being so brain-consumming! But, on that note, I'm posting a cute email I got at work today. Maybe it's my tired brain cells, but I just couldn't stop laughing.

A visiting minister was giving the offertory prayer :

"Dear Lord," he began with arms extended and a rapturous look on his upturned face, "without you we are but dust..."

He would have continued, but at that silent, awkward moment when he paused for a breath, one very obedient little girl (who was listening carefully for a change!) leaned over to her mother and asked quite audibly in her shrill little girl voice,

"Mommy, WHAT is butt dust?"

Church was pretty much over at that point...

Anna says...
I think my brain cells are too tired to laugh at that. ;-) I fear that work is beginning to fry my brain as well. Uh-oh. I guess I should start taking my breaks for the whole 15 minutes AND do something other than stare at this screen, eh?

Andrea says...
Breaks? Huh?? What are these 'breaks' you speak of??

Anna says...
Andrea, if you weren't on messenger talking all day, you could maybe have some breaks once in awhile too. gosh. (hehe...I'm just teasing you, cause it's so fun!)

Andrea says...
I'll have you know, Miss Smarty Pants, that I have not turned on my yahoo messenger for a good TWO weeks. Which has nothing to do with how long Amanda has been gone, I'm sure...

Anna says...
Aw, I'm sorry Andrea. I just have to pick on you any way I can, since you do it to me. I still love you.

Andrea says...
I wouldn't want it any other way, Anna. :)

Gee..

we are awefully chatty. I just started working in the church library today andI really enjoyed it. I had an inkling that I might fancy working in a library. I am currently reading this book on hatmaking and am finding it fascinating. The pictures are cool too. Confession: I am reading P&P again. I am starting to think less and less of the Firth/Ehle? production of the movie. Mostly in the character development of Mr. Darcy(you were right Melodee). I hope in the new P&P they do a better job with Mr. Darcy. Have you all been saying this all along?(bright moment)

Oh yeah. Are we just doing the comment thing again?

Melodee says:
Brooke, I think we're still doing it this way. On the Amanda post we all had two word comments, so they went in the comments box. :)

I was so excited to go to the church library yesterday and find all of Calvin's commentaries there! What a swift answer to my announcement in the bulletin! Someone also dropped off some tape sets that look really good - one is all about Lewis and his writings. I want to find time to listen to those. Maybe while I'm *ahem* walking this summer. . .

Well, I've been saying that they didn't do a great job with Mr. Darcy in the A&E version, but I believe I'm the only one. Andrea can provide the arguments from "the other side." I have very low expectations that they'll do a better job with him in the new version, expecially since they have 1/3 of the time to develop his character. Oh well! That's why I'm glad the movies don't "overwrite" the books.

Enough Wallowing!

Okay, girls. I doubt Amanda would be happy to know we're just sitting in the dumps without her around here. Since we seem to like these little personality quizzes so much, why don't we give it a literary twist and liven things up a little?

Which Narnia Character Are You?

I'm Susan. Big surprise. A bossy worrier! :)

It goes without saying, but...

I miss Amanda. :(

Cool story

Check out the story that goes with this sweet picture, taken by Michael Yon here.

Thanks to Random Mind.

Crazy day

Ok, it's 4:00. I should be headed home in the glorious sunshine to my precious puppy-dog to go on a nice long walk....but, I'm not. I'm stuck in the working-late-vortex. So, what better to do then blog, eh? Actually, I've just resigned myself to the fact that I really will need to work this weekend, so I'm taking a little breather from the day. I don't have a very demanding, high stress job. It's actually a really great place to work. But, you have to always be ready for that curve ball - the boss comes in and tells you, "Hey, we need this done yesterday!" So, you gotta do it.

So, on that upbeat note, welcome to the real world, Annie!!

Anna says...
Thanks Andrea...it hasn't been too horrible yet, but it is only 11:18 the first day of full time. I have a feeling that by tomorrow night I will be almost ready to go back to school. Naw, probably not gonna happen. ;-) Thanks again for dinner, I had a great time with you girls!

Update from Amanda

Check out the latest!

Miracles do happen

I wonder if this guy qualified for the "persistant vegetative" status...

If i were

If I were a linguist I would be a Diachronic Linguist, of the English language of course. This is the the study of the developement of a language over a period of time. It is one of the two main points of view that linguists study, the other one being the synchronic view(you have to look that one up your self). Then I would be a scholar and I would work for the OED.

If I could be an athlete I would be a marathon runner.

If I could be a bonnie pirate I would quit my job, settle on the coast of northern Oregon and grow fifteen foot high rose bushes with my pirate booty, Cause then I wouldn' t have to say
barnacles ARGH anymore.

If I could be a musician I would want to play the piano, violin, trombone, and a bassoon.

I don't want to be any of those other things. I want to be a hat maker. Maybe. I am still looking into it.

I don't know any one else who blogs so I can't tag them.

I found..

a picture I would like to put on my profile. But I don't know how to do it. I don't know if I can use it. Will you help me. Please.

Andrea says...
Brooke, you have to download 'Hello' client from Picassa. Or if you don't want to download anything, you can create an account on Flickr and just upload pictures from there. 'Hello' allows you to post pictures to the blog. Once you get the picture(s) posted, you can go in and edit your post and get the source code for the picture that you want in your profile. Then, you can paste that source into your profile picture source. After that, you can delete that post or whatever you want to do with it. With Flickr, it actually generates the code you need to just paste into your post (or profile picture source). Neato.

At least, that's how I do it. Let me know if you need more help, dearie!

Ghostblogging

I've notice kind of a fun trend going on - fake ghostblogging. Have you seen these sites? They are blogs that are written by what appear to be humourous and extremely bored people that are pretending to be some celebrity or character. The funniest I've seen are Darth Vader, Confessions of a Super Hero and the Pope. Others (mostly unfunny and overall lame) are Captain Morgan, Kirsten Dunst, Barbie and even Percy Blakeney. Most of them aren't worth the time to read them, but some are actually pretty witty and funny. Has anyone else seen any of these that are worth reading?

Anna and Brooke - We Missed You!

Brooke I warn you - I have recruited your brother to help convince you to come to the next ball.

For some reason it took me a really long time to start enjoying myself this time, but once I did I had a great time. We had an especially fine Postie's Jig at the end, didn't we Andrea? Anyway, we really missed you, especially at dinner and at after-ball milkshakes. Oh well. We'll just have to go out for milkshakes with you sometime soon!


Brooke says...
Moo ha ha. It's on. You have several obstacles. One I will point out to you. You can't go to the ball if you don't have a dress. ; )
Melodee your concert was wonderful. I especially like the spunky german song, you'll have to translate it for me.

Andrea says...
Silly Brooke! I know an incredible seamstress that I could introduce you to! Actually, you may know her already - she has earned quite a reputation for her incredible ball gown creations. You call it obstacle, I call it speedbump. :)
Annie, even Matthew agreed - "It's just not the same with out all the Schaner girls!" I think we all had to kind of pull ourselves out a small bummed-out slump before we started enjoying ourselves. I attribute it to the missing dancers. :)

Melodee says:
Brooke, you could whip yourself up a dress in no time flat. It doesn't have to be a "production" like the one you just finished. Oh, and I'll find that German translation for you. (On a completely unrelated topic, I tagged you on TRP to play "if I were.")

Andrea, you're right. I'm sure that was part of the reason for our slow start. I know I was sure missing the girls.