Sunday Scribblings: Powerful, The Power of Pretty

The other day it was time to take the car for an oil change, so down to the local Jiffy Lube I go.

As anyone knows, taking the car to have any type of mechanical work done is a pretty casual affair and I was dressed appropriately. Once arriving at Jiffy Lube I pulled my car into the bay; a young man approached, informed me that it would be about 25 minutes and invited me to have a seat in the waiting room.

When I entered the waiting room, there were three other patrons already present: another woman probably in her late thirties who appeared as if she were on her way to work, a man reading the paper, and a young woman, in her early twenties, with long blond hair and a skirt that was probably a foot long - seriously.

I took a seat and began to read the book that I'd brought, "Oh The Places You'll Go" by Dr. Seuss. I am at an age where I can feel rebellious enough to read a Dr. Seuss book with no child in sight. I was happily reading when my peripheral vision detected movement to my left, I angled my head so that I could actually see what the movement was: the young woman tugging at her skirt.

I can remember wearing skirts that were short enough to "take your picture" as my mother would have said, and I smiled inwardly. The young woman rose to walk to the trash can and deposit her coffee cup, a movement that required tugging of the skirt upon rising and prior to sitting. Gracious! I thought, just like some one's grandmother, what is the point if you have to do that much work to keep the thing in place? You could get another, longer, short skirt that wouldn't put you in danger of catching the flu in your nether regions and still look cute.

Because really isn't that what it's about, especially at that age? The desire to look cute, be hot, the power of pretty? The idea that when you stand up, someone is going to be looking at you and maybe for that moment at least, you're special?

One of the technicians came to the door and asked, "who owns the Toyota?" The man arose and went with the technician into the work area. This is how they decipher one car owner from the next eh? Well I guess that's a good system since they don't take info from you when you arrive. I resumed reading my book.

"Amanda?" I looked up as the blond arose, tugged and went into the work area. It was all I could do not to laugh because I'd look like an asylum escapee. The power of pretty and a really short skirt had given that girl an identity. No other name in that room was known.

As I wrote earlier, I can remember wearing those skirts short enough to "take your picture" but I am no longer a photographer. I don't want to be rearranging my clothing all the time.

I'm not that girl anymore.


This post was done as part of the Sunday Scribblings

The First Time I Saw A Mastectomy Scar

Soon a movie will be airing on Lifetime Television entitled: "Matters of Life and Dating". The film stars Ricki Lake as a cancer survivor who has had a mastectomy and must wrestle with how to negotiate the dating world.

The first time I saw a mastectomy scar was in 1999, and it stands out as one of the most impactful experiences I've had to date.

*Jane was a member of the spiritual group I belong to and I had known her for about three years. We were not close friends but we did have a very friendly acquaintance. We would have extended conversations after the monthly meetings which were sometimes held at her home. Suddenly, we were not having meetings at her home and she wasn't present at meetings held elsewhere. I inquired as to her whereabouts, "Jane has breast cancer", I was told.

At that point in my life, I hadn't ever known anyone with cancer and it hit me hard. How was that possible? I had seen her not that long ago, just a couple of months really. Could she have gotten sick in so short a time? And breast cancer? Breast cancer is frightening, and strikes on all levels, physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and because you never know if it could happen to you.

We all got updates on Jane's condition, we were told she was going to have a mastectomy, we were told when it was to be, we sent extra prayers and good energy for her healing. And then one day she was there again, just like that!

"How are you?" I asked, "I'm fine" she replied, and she looked great, happy even. Of course we were all full of questions and we asked them. All except one. That one question was like the elephant in the living room, its presence was tangible, as if it was sitting at the table with us.
"Do you want to see it?"she asked, and of course we all did.

There in her dining room, with eight women sitting around the table, she lifted her sweater over her head, unbuttoned her shirt, and stood, while we stared silently. No one said a word for some time. I didn't want to be the first to say anything for fear that it might seem disrespectful because what I was thinking was: "that's not what I expected".

I didn't really know what to expect, the only frames of reference I had to use were some made for tv movies, and whatever my imagination could create. I couldn't fathom what breasts would look like if one were missing, it was territory my imagination couldn't or wouldn't, pass into.

Sometimes when dealing with the unknown, what you can create in your mind is far worse than the reality. I knew what my breasts meant to me, the currency they'd been and sometimes the source of my self esteem and I was horrified at the idea of being "maimed" and "not a woman".

And there stood Jane, gloriously showing us the reality. After some moments had passed she said, "It's not that bad, huh?" That broke the tension and we were like chattering magpies, because the cancer was bad, the sickness she'd felt was bad, the chemo was bad, but the scar the actual place where her breast used to be- not that bad. She was still whole, missing a breast but by no means maimed, and still very much a woman.

That was a great gift that Jane gave us that day, and I will forever be grateful. That was the first time I saw a mastectomy scar; the second time was yesterday in a magazine. The young woman was standing in the photograph with her breast bared and mastectomy scar proudly showing; she'd adorned it with a beautiful flowering vine.

She looked victorious, just like Jane.

*name changed.

If You Love Dogs You Won't Do This

It's certainly no secret that I'm a You Tube fan, but I felt the need to share this video I found today.

I don't know if you could hear me laughing in whatever state or country you're in, but let me tell you I was howling as loud as these poor dogs must have been.

WARNING: DO NOT WATCH THIS WITH A FULL BLADDER!!!

You Tube

"Music hath charms to soothe the savage breast..."
William Congreve

Let me tell you I was having a party on You Tube the other night!`

I discovered You Tube is more than just a hub for garage bands to promote their music or a portal for everyone with a web cam to express themselves. You Tube is my own personal worldwide jukebox! I discovered that any song I could think of, regardless of the age was on You Tube; the original artists as well as many folks who just wanted to sing that song.

My musical tastes are nothing, if not eclectic. I started off with Luther Vandross' "Dance With My Father Again", that song always makes me want to cry, but in a good way. Next, I listened to The Beatles' "She's Leaving Home", and then my brain really started cooking... it was like all the songs that I'd not heard in years, maybe even decades, were fighting for priority.

Below is a list of the songs that were played at Menopauseprincess" Rocking Party, you can see how they cover a number of genres.

"Dance With My Father Again" Luther Vandross
"She's Leaving Home" The Beatles
"Only You" Notorious B.I.G. ,Puff Daddy, Ma$e
"Anything, Anything" Dramarama
"How Can An Angel Break My Heart" Toni Braxton
"A House Is Not A Home" Luther Vandross
"Let Me Blow Ya Mind" EVE and Gwen Stefani
"If I Was A Rich Girl" Gwen Stefani and EVE
"Anytime" Brian McKnight
"Family Affair" Mary J. Blige
"Since I Fell For You" Lenny Welch
"You Belong To Me" Jo Stafford
"They Dance Alone" Sting

As the next title or artist came into my mind, I'd type it into the You Tube search engine, hit play and off I went. There was some finger popping, head shaking, and chair dancing, going on, I tell ya! When I'd finished with my party I was in a good mood that lasted the rest of the night.

I know there's iTunes and iPods, but I really don't want to have to download all those songs, You Tube is free, and sticking those little things in my ear, well, I'm not that girl anymore.

This Guy Said My Blog is Worth...

Well we know I'm a C-List blogger, and I'm Totally Fabulous, but what's that really worth?

I'm pretty sure that the above question is uppermost on SO's mind as I have become addicted to blogging like a junkie on smack. I am either reading one of my faves, discovering new blogs, commenting on blogs, or trying to figure out if it's possible to make money with my blog.

Sharp intake of breath, the dreaded "M" word is written! I'll have to be honest with you folks, I adore making new friends who show me parts of the world that I'll most likely, never visit. I love to give my opinion on things, as my tag line says: "I'm putting in my two cents and I've got change for everybody"! I want to share the funny things I've noticed, and the lessons I've learned as I go along my journey being the "Menopauseprincess" AND I'd like to make some cash along the way.

I don't think the desire to make money negates the desires I have to make friends, but I can't tell you I've quite figured out how to do it.

Sure, I've got the requisite Google Adsense here, and I appreciate the $2.38 I've made, but I won't be seeing that for awhile. Besides blog money guru, Dane Carlson says my blog is worth:

My blog is worth $27,662.46.
How much is your blog worth?

How does he know what my blog is worth, and how can I get that cash? I'm sure that would get SO off my back for awhile. Well of course it's Technorati again, it's amazing what can be done with that information. I hope it doesn't fall into enemy hands one day!

So in the near future, if you see more Adsense here, or some other new fangled widget shows up specifically to "monetize" my blog, I hope you'll think of me kindly.

I'm still the same Menopauseprincess, who's not that girl anymore.

Sunday Scribblings: Hello My Name Is...Menopauseprincess

For years I have had an acrimonious relationship with paper name tags; specifically the ones that are in bright colors with the words: "Hello My Name Is......."

Now when I was younger, a teenager to be exact, I hated these things. I was a girl that was fiercely independent. One of my teachers opined that if everyone in the class were wearing a hat I'd feel duty bound not to, just to be different; and she was right.

Whenever I attended workshops or events where these monuments to convention were used, I'd pretend that I didn't see them, they were not meant for me. I would sit proudly in whatever group feigning indifference and forcing individual attention if I was to be addressed, because I had no insipid piece of paper saying "Hello My Name Is..."

As the years have gone by I've relaxed my stand on these badges; probably another sign of encroaching maturity, but I don't mind. I find that I've become a woman who is more often than not, happy to let others know me. When I see others, mostly always younger people, without name badges or with them applied in places that are improper to stare at, I have to smile.

Hello my name is Menopauseprincess and I'm Not That Girl Anymore.


This post was done as part of the Sunday Scribblings

I'm Royalty Don't Ya Know!

My outer space friend, Spiff the Spaceman is at it again with his blasted memes. I thought not to do it, but then I thought: Can I really deprive all of my readers (all four of you) of the fun of seeing my peculiar aristocratic title, and I know you won't be able to resist seeing what yours is. I'm not tagging anyone BTW, but if you get your aristocratic title come back and let me know what it is.

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Countess Menopauseprincess the Unusual of Much Leering Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

So yeah, I'm royalty don't ya know! I will, of course, accept all offerings of flowers, gifts, and money as befits the Countess of Much Leering!

Now, the next one is my own personal Fortune Cookie, and check out the message:

My Fortune Cookie told me: Take time today to pay more attention to your imaginary friends. Get a cookie from Miss Fortune

I'm not quite sure who they're referring to, you guys sure aren't imaginary!

Hot Monkey Love

Last night there was a whale of a party over at my blog friend Frank's. He wrote a post about marriage; specifically his feelings about it being unnatural for men, and the comments were fast and furious.

Frank has a wife, a fellow blogger named Chele who he loves immensely; in fact they talk to each other in his blog and it's a hoot to witness. These two clearly love each other a lot, they've been married for 14 years and they're hot for each other. I'm betting there's that Hot Monkey Love going on between them. I'm sure we all know what Hot Monkey Love is and if you don't well, I am wishing that you know it before you leave this planet.

Then there's my blog friend, Nick, he's madly in love with his wife, and while she doesn't respond on his blog, I think she reads it. In this post he talks about the difficulties of having a date with his wife. Nick is not as racy as Frank but I detect the old Hot Monkey Love in his marriage as well.

I wanted to write this post to talk about how wonderful I think these men are but also to encourage people about the possibility of finding love and staying there.

I am 49 years old and SO and I just celebrated our 7 year anniversary. I know you can do the math but that means I was 42 years old before I met the person who will most certainly be who I grow old(er) with.

It can be sad and crazy making when you long for a person to make your heart smile, someone you can have Hot Monkey Love with. Once you find them the real work begins. I'd say if you'd rather be bored with them than doing something "exciting" with anyone else, you've got yourself a keeper.

And The Thought For Today Is...

"We don't stop playing because we grow old;
we grow old because we stop playing"

-George Bernard Shaw

As I was leaving the grocery store today I noticed a bubblegum machine along the bank of machines that are always at kept at kid's eye level. SO jokes that I'm like a child when I pass one of these machines; I usually counter with "yeah, but I've got my own money". Now, normally I would be fishing in my bag for a coin to deposit into the machine, but the painted price on this machine was 50cents! Criminy! I can remember when these things were 5 cents. To pay 50 cents for a mere bubblegum ball, well that was the end of it for me.

Still, there are times when I've just got to let the little girl out, back to the time when I was just "princess".

-I own crayons and a large unfinished poster of a Victorian house that I can color any way I want.
-I enjoy a good jar of bubbles to blow, it's even more fun if there's a dog who'll chase the bubbles.
-I play with toys in toy stores.
-I checked out "Oh The Places You'll Go" by Dr. Seuss today from the library and reserved a copy of "Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are?" also by Dr. Seuss. I am reading both of these books because I want to be reminded of the places I can go and how lucky I am.
-Much to SO's chagrin, I occasionally wear my hair in braided pigtails.
-I love any movie that has a talking animal in it. I just went to see "Underdog" and laughed loud and hard.

I don't ever want to be so old I stop playing. I want you to be able to look into my eyes and still see the little girl there. I want to retain as much joy as I can.

What about you?

Burger's Got No Back

There is a new commercial by Carl's Jr. for their new patty melt hamburger which features flat topped buns. I've got to hand it to the ad agency because what's really on the burger is the bun section that you usually see when you order a double or triple hamburger and there is a piece of bread separating all the meat. Nothing really special.

Carl's Jr. is really selling the sizzle, there is considerable uproar about the current commercial from the education industry. Allegedly they feel it demeans teachers. The spot shows an alluring teacher instructing her classroom. She is wearing a tight suit and has that "sexy secretary" thing going on; as she travels up and down the aisles of the class the boys are checking out her ass and opining on the flatness of her buns. The boys break out into a rap song about "liking flat buns" and teacher breaks out into dance moves that reminded me of the exotic dance scenes in "Flashdance".

I think this spot is a hoot, and because there's no such thing as bad publicity, the fact that someone is bothered enough about it to want it pulled-what's not to like?

I went to Catholic High School back when dinosaurs walked the earth. My school was not sexually segregated so testosterone and estrogen mixed with wild abandon in the hallowed halls. There were occasions of students surreptitiously dating teachers, hell one married her teacher-ew!

While there were no female teachers around that resembled the lass in the Carl's Jr. commercial there were a couple of male teachers that were interesting. One of those instructors, my geometry teacher, would make an unsuccessful move on me seven years later in a bar -ew squared!

I have a lot of respect for educators, their jobs are at best, tense and difficult and at worst, life threatening, they're not paid nearly enough for the work they do. I don't believe though that a hamburger commercial has the power to demean them; they are much too courageous for that. Look what they've chosen to do for a living.



ADDENDUM:

My apologies for my myopia. If you've never seen this commercial, take a look for yourself:

Sunday Scribblings: Collecting For My Cesspool

Cesspool- A covered pit with a perforated lining in the bottom into which raw sewage is discharged: the liquid portion of the sewage is disposed of by seeping or leaching into the surrounding porous soil; the solids, or sludge, are retained in the pit to undergo partial decomposition before occasional or intermittent removal. Cesspools are no longer permitted for waste disposal. www.buzzardsbay.org/glossary.htm


One day it dawned on me that I knew all of the names of the Spice Girls. I am not a fan or follower of their music, why do I know this useless information? When did I learn it? Unfortunately I didn't have the answer to either one of those questions but one thing I did know: my brain is a cesspool of knowledge.

Like the somewhat graphic definition above illustrates, information that has no relevance to my day -to-day life is collected in the pit of my brain...before occasional or intermittent removal by spewing up to the surface of my consciousness when prompted.

I am the person you want on your "Phone a friend" list for "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire", and it pretty much doesn't matter which subject. I am sometimes a whiz on Trivial Pursuit, knowing things I have no reason to know and, I believe I could probably hold my own on "Jeopardy".

I am not political in any way, yet today while speaking to a friend, I was able to pull out of the murky depths the fact that former President Jimmy Carter brokered a peace deal between Egypt's Anwar Sadat and Israel's Menahim Begin. The aforementioned freakish Spice Girl knowledge was another example of information that came up when someone asked a question. I can't just access this information however, instead it jumps out of my mouth almost without my awareness or consent.

I have known about the cesspool for quite some time yet it still surprises me when something is ejected from it. Because the thing is, I don't know what's in the cesspool. SO knows about the cesspool and has witnessed it in action. "Is it in your cesspool?" comes the query when some obscure tidbit is needed.

Unfortunately, if I have to ask, it usually isn't.


This post was done as part of the Sunday Scribblings

I May Be C-List, But Baby I'm Fabulous!

So yesterday I told you I'd discovered I was on the C-List. I figure since I'm still a blogging baby C-List isn't quite so bad. There's so much to learn, so many new friends to make, one of my new blog friends, Spiff the Spaceman is a blog baby like me, who is taking the blog world by storm.

Spiff is an alien who is assisted by his alter ego, Nick in discovering all the wild and wonderful things on planet Earth.

Spiff has kindly given me this award, which I am pleased and honored to accept.


I would now like to give this award to some equally fabulous and wonderful bloggers,

Josie, Conan_cat, Bobby, Brown Baron, Maria

Thank you for making my entrance into this new world easier!

A Little Better Than Kathy Griffin

Have you ever watched Kathy Griffin's show, "My Life On The D List?" If you have seen her tv show or standup comedy routines you'll know her gimmick is all about the fact that she's not an A-List celebrity like Tom Cruise, Oprah or John Travolta. She is not the first celebrity sought out for events in fact, she's way down on the list, she's on the D list.

I must say that Kathy has made that D List thing work for her. She is probably the hardest working woman in show business; the range of events she'll do goes from prisons and obscure business conventions, all the way to headlining in Las Vegas. That woman has range, and not a lot of pride. I dig her!

So I'm surfing the blogosphere, which I have gotta tell ya can be like smoking crack: the time just dissappears in a puff of smoke! Anyway, I'm surfing the blogosphere when I run across this little gem: Are You an A- List Bloglebrity? You just enter your URL into the box on the site and through the magic of Technorati, they'll tell you where you rank in the blogierachy.

It seems there are no end to the words that can be created if you place the word blog in front of it, but I digress.

Below is what I am after a little over 30 days in the blogosphere: Do you think I'm I proud? You bet I am.

And of course, it means I'll get the call before Kathy Griffin.

Dress The Body You Have Now

"Apparelsomedayitis" is a strange disease that afflicts mostly women. The malady is insidious but can strike after the birth of a child, after use of some medications such as steroids, or as part of the aging process.

Some of the symptoms of "Apparelsomedayitis" are owning clothing in 4 or 5 different sizes, refusing to purge a wardrobe of smaller sized clothing because "someday you're going to wear them again", and the worst symptom: refusing to buy clothing in the size appropriate to the body you are currently in, refusing to dress the body you have now.

Do you have "Apparelsomedayitis?"

I have a dear friend who has gained some weight over the years, to be honest it's quite a bit of weight. Still, she is beautiful, vivacious, funny, easy to be with, and a victim of "Apparelsomedaytis" who displays the worst symptom of the malady, regularly. She refuses to make peace with the body she has, and her wardrobe shows it.

What she wears to clothe her current body is unattractive and not flattering to her body type. I made a suggestion once about visiting a store that caters to plus size-once. The chilly response I received, well let's just say that I am beginning to get over the frostbite.

I am no stranger to the disease of "Apparelsomedayitis", I was afflicted some years back as well. My joke was that I had wardrobes for 4 different people in my closet, but it really isn't funny. It seems to me that holding on to clothing that you haven't worn in years because "someday" you'll be that size again is cruel and an insult to the body that serves you now.

Some years ago there was a magazine that catered to plus size women called MODE. I find it interesting that the exact name and font type is now used on "Ugly Betty", but I digress.

MODE Magazine was wonderful, full of lush, beautiful, plus-sized, women, gorgeous pictorials, relevant articles, and fabulous clothes. It was really like a VOGUE but for full figured women, and I would eagerly await each issue. Each issue of the magazine would cause my head to lift, my strut to become more pronounced. I felt beautiful and there was a magazine filled with women who looked like me to prove it! Sadly, that magazine didn't last-- excuse me while I observe a moment of silence in memory.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that eating well and healthy and exercise don't have a place in the world. I am simply saying I refuse to dishonor the luscious, curvy, body I have now by not providing it with attractive clothing.

I am living in the present, not the future. I no longer have "Apparelsomedayitis". I'm not that girl anymore.

Exercise For Those Over 35

While reading Nick's post on old age, aches, and those strange noises that appear when you get older, I just had to snicker.

I have to tell you that sometimes when I bend down to pick something up I wonder who is providing the sound effects, that "oof" or sound of bones cracking, the groan when I rise from a squatting position, the amount of time it takes to completely straighten up from a seated position.

Keeping flexible is becoming more of a priority as time goes by so when a dear friend sent the following information in an email I was very interested:

Just came across this exercise suggested for the over 35's to build muscle strength in the arms and shoulders. It seems so easy so I thought that I'd pass it on to some of my friends and family. The article suggested doing it three days a week.

1. Begin by standing on a comfortable surface, where you have plenty of room at each side. With a 2lb potato bag in each hand, extend your arms straight out from your sides and hold them there as long as you can. Try to reach a full minute, then relax.

2. Each day, you'll find that you can hold this position for just a bit longer. After a couple of weeks, move up to 5lb potato bag. Then 25lb potato bag and then eventually try to get to where you can lift a 50lb potato bag in each hand and hold your arms straight for more than a full minute

(I'm at this level).

3. After you feel confident at that level, put a potato in each of the bags.


I'm starting next week. No need to be too hasty.

Something For The Cat Lovers Among You

More Alike Than Unalike

...We seek success in Finland,
are born and die in Maine.
In minor ways we differ,
in major we're the same.

I note the obvious differences
between each sort and type,
but we are more alike, my friends,
than we are unalike.

from Human Family by Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou writes "we are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike" while Ms. Angelou was discussing different races and ethnicities in her writing, this same idea can be applied to men and women.

The other evening I happened across an episode of "The Pickup Artist" on VH1 where Ms. Angelou's idea was being illustrated.

"The Pickup Artist" is a show where several men who have little or no luck with the opposite sex are schooled in the art of picking up women by a young man named "Mystery". I am clearly not the target audience for this show because not only had I never heard of this gentleman, I couldn't see what entitled him to school anyone on the "art" of picking up women.
Off I go to Wikipedia to get some information. Here's what I found:

His name is Erik James Markovic. He's 36 years old. Markovik was, by his own account, unable to attract women in his teenage years, at one time a Dungeons and Dragons player. He has also described himself as a "late bloomer", having not experienced puberty until the age of 16, and not losing his virginity until age 21. As a result of his sexual frustration and loneliness he traveled to nearby cities over a 10-year period and approached women. Over time and after thousands of cold approaches, he developed a routine based system for successful approaches which he called the Mystery Method.

Okay, I stand corrected.

Maybe.

The episode I watched had seven men; every one of them to my, not-the-target-audience eyes, perfectly attractive and personable. True, they weren't stepping off of the pages of GQ any time soon, but then neither is Mystery.

Anyway, all of the men were given makeovers which included piercings, hair being dyed, and really unfortunate wardrobe choices and then had to accomplish "tasks" while being watched on camera by Mystery and his "wing men". One of the tasks involved having to wear a Speedo (a truly evil piece of clothing that NO man looks good in) and attending a pool party filled with attractive women.

The men are were all shapes and sizes; we see their discomfort once they are presented the swim suits and told they have to wear them. Here is the really interesting part, the man who was shaped like a teddy bear was the least self conscious in the Speedo, the one with the big biceps and flat stomach was so distressed and self conscious that it was painful to watch.

Needless to say, the larger man won the "task" which was to engage the women at the pool party. It was not hard to see why; he was funny, charming and a bit flirtatious. It made me wonder why he was there. In fact, all of the men were able to get past their discomfort and have a better time than they thought possible.

When Mystery debriefed the men before announcing the winner of the task, one of the things he mentioned was that the ability to engage the women had nothing to do with how they looked. Wow! The men all seemed to agree but I don't think they really heard what Mystery said.

I believe there's "a lid for every pot" and while it might take awhile, sometimes a long while, the person who can see the specialness of you does exist. I hope that ultimately these men learned that lesson.

Every person, no matter how beautiful has experienced moments when they just don't feel enough. Lack of self esteem is no respecter of persons, it hits us all. We are more alike than unalike.

Menopauseprincess' Magical Carpet Ride!

It seems that my blog is being read in outer space! Spiff The Spaceman has been reading my blog, in fact I think he started on the day I wrote about my not being so crazy about memes. So of course the little rascal tagged me!

Alakazam!

The buff Genie King and the smokin hot Genie Princess from the magical Land of Faraway have finally escaped the clutches of their Evil Master after being held captive for 1000 years and are wanting to cut loose! Busting out with them is their Genie Buddy, who, last time they were free had a bit of a gambling problem. They are now flying away on their Magical Flying Carpet on a quest to redeem their souls for all the wicked deeds they were forced to do by the Evil Master after they do a few more in the wild city of Las Vegas! They've heard that what happens there, stays there.

I am watching a marathon of "Sex and the City" when the screen begins to smoke. The smoke billows into my living room and three beings appear.
"I am the Genie King", "I am the Genie Princess", "I am the Genie Buddy" the three introduce themselves.
"We are here to grant you your fondest wish, but only after you answer this meme" purrs the Genie Princess.
"I don't do memes, they're not that interesting and my words will be forever inscribed in the pantheon of the Internet" I reply.
"Aw get over yourself sister, you ain't that interesting" growls the Genie Buddy.
"Besides, the meme is simply a bit of fun, an invitation from your Internet friends to come out and play" says the Genie King, giving the Genie Buddy a kick.
"My SO says I shouldn't" I say somewhat weakly.
"Ah yes, but it's your spirit of rebellion that keeps you interesting to your SO" murmurs Genie Princess.
"Well, yes that's true I say, I'll do it!"

The three Genies are besides themselves with delight.
As I sit down and begin, Genie Buddy says: "Hey, how far is it to Ceasar's"?


***Start Copying Here***

Rules:

1. Write a short paragraph about your visit by the two Genies and include a link to the blog that passed on the Genie Symbol to you.

2. COPY the Rules and ENTIRE List below and post it on your blog.

3. List down your wish.

4. Place your name below the last name on the list and pass on the Genie Symbol to at least 5 other bloggers.

5. Please put up either one (or both) of the Symbols of the Genies on your blog to show that the Genies have visited your blog.

Genie Princess

Genie King

The Genie King, his Genie Princess and their trusty Genie Buddy have so far visited:

Mariuca would like to wish for success and fame!
Adrian would like to wish for good health and happiness!
Emila would like to wish for happiness and success.and peace!
Bobby would like to wish for the powers of Superman and immortality!
Jean would like to wish for stress-free work environment and happiness!
Trinity would like to wish good health for Jan's brother and Yah and Wan and success!
Jesse would like a great isp and a Yummy box of chocolates!
Speedcat Hollydale would like a pet acorn monkey named "Monkee"!
Spiff, The Spaceman would like a billion US Dollars! (Am I being too greedy here?)
MPG would like to wish for love and peace.
Rolando would like everyone’s hearts desire to come true!
Joezul would like to wish for all to get their wish come true.
Menopauseprincess would like peace, happiness, love, health,
and prosperity for everyone!
Morgan would like to wish for love, laughter, sunshine & blue skies for EVERYONE!
Kellie would like to wish for happiness & love to be bestowed on her family & friends!
LadyJava would like to wish for love, health, beauty and wealth for one and all!
Keeyit would like to wish for staying healthy and happily with family!
Colleen wishes everyone be well and happy!
Spookygrace would like to have a busy traffic and making money blog!
Janice Ng would like to wish for good health for his brother!
Nick would like to wish for a set of new running shoes! (GK says: Hope you can catch them with your old ones LOL)
Shinade would like to send love,peace,wealth and good health to everyone!
Cbenc12 would like to wish for health, happiness and luck for my family and friends and me too!
Paris would like to wish for more publicity! Hooyah! (taps swollen head)!
Bokjae would like to wish for speedy recovery for j@nice's brother, yan and wan!
Giddy Tiger would like to wish for longer weekends and never-ending holidays!
Book Project would like to wish for total wealth minus one Solomons Wish!
MT would like to create a toys & games empire & have the will to c'tinue blogging!
Dawn would like to wish for world peace!
Cotojo would like Love, Peace, Harmony, Understanding & safety for all children!
Bobo would like health & wealth for everyone she loves (including her blogfriends)!
Auntie Dar would love to end animal cruelty!
Chinnee would like to wish for happiness and good health forever!
rinnah would like to wish for more good paying opps to come my way!
Ozzieblackcat would like to wish for success with her blog!

Rinnah would like to wish for more good paying opps to come my way!

Bless would like to wish for more happiness & more blessing for family & world peace.

La Chanson de Phoenix would like to wish for a small bottle of sweet perfume.

Shireen would like to wish for good health, longevity and happiness for all her loved ones!

Lovelymummy would like to wish for good health, longevity, love, wealth, happiness !

Rachel would like to wish 4 health, happiness, freedom, worry free, luck, wealth, safety.

Mr.Thief would like to have Jessica Alba as his wife!

Ting would like to exterminate all retards but end up being the richest man instead.

conancat would like to wish that Almond the Poodle will get fatter & fatter & fatter!

Vamp would like to wish to become a rempit.

Shoppingmum would like to wish for all her wishes come true.

LemonJude would like to wish for world peace!

Hui Sia would like to wish for love, health, wealth and happiness.

Cherry would like to get married.

Binding Ink would like to wish for A Humanity United in Harmony.

Mommy of 2 Angels wish for great joy for my family.

Adyla would like to wish for mighty stars so they will grant her other wishes forever.

Sean would like to wish family members live healthier!

Pinkelle would like to wish 4 health, happiness & good results all around 4 my loved ones!

Mama Tang would like to wish for health, wealth, success and happiness for everyone.

Chew Lee would like to wish hubby for a successful business venture in Singapore.

Mel would like to wish that everyone would choose happiness!

SA would like to wish for more time to get things done and rest.

Sandee would like to send happiness and good health to everyone.

Jam would like to manage Manchester United.

Anggie would like to wish for dream and wish come true.

Shooi would like to wish for peace on earth, love, good health and happiness.

Rebecca would like to wish for Powerpuff gal.

Pookyma would like his one wish made into a couple more wishes.

Sophiagurl would like to wish for good health 4 her parents, peace & prosperity & MORE!

Sibbia would like to wish that Anne keeps her house & for guidance and prosperity.

S.E. would like to wish for abundance, peace, health and prosperity for all!

Sweet girl would like to wish for the company and love of sweetu (pkd) forever!

Baby Sa would like her wish made into another few selfish wishes.

Zunnur would like to go to a place with fresh air, green earth, blue skies & nice people!

yung would like to live in a world without lies!

Slavemom would like to wish for happiness & good health for her loved ones & herself!

Wen would like to wish for happiness and health for herself and her family.

kimfei wish everybody will live happily ever after.

aikosumomo would like to wish for success with her dance life!

Diamondssaphire would like to wish for her son to continue to be succesful in school.

1+2mom would like to wish hubby success on his business & good health for family.

Doodski would like to wish for good health, peace and happiness for his family.

Sweetpea would like another two extra hours in a day, excluding working time!

La delirante would like to wish for all our wishes to come true.

3POINT8 would like to wish for POWER!

Trenting would like to wish for a fruitful and healthy life inclusive of many riches.

Erisha would like to wish for success and higher traffic of unique visitors.

Kristyn would like to wish for a peaceful, prosperous fall for herself and her family!

s3r whould like to wish for more wishes and achieve great success in life.

Jennifer wishes that all kids would sit down while riding the school bus.

Yvonne wishes for a happy and healthy life for her BB Ryan.

LZmommy would like to wish for Peace, Good health, Happiness.

Sugar Queens Dream would like wish all Peace, Happiness & all their Hearts Desire!

Santa Claus didn't need to make a wish because he's Santa!

Everyday Healy would like to wish for family happiness.

Mistyeiz would like to wish that all her wishes comes true when she wishes for it.

Chiwi would like to wish for the world to be filled with love and abundance!

Shopping-kids would like to wish for luck, success & happiness 4 family and friends!
Mumsgather would like to wish for love, health and happiness.
Forumer would like to wish for happiness, peace and justice for all.
Christy wishes that every individual will realize and utilize their full potential.
FireHorse would like to wish for the only man I've ever loved to come back to me.
Annita would like to wish for [ …….. ] ^_^
The Sewing Mom wishes good health and peace for all her friends and family.
Consuela would like to wish for happiness, health, prosperity, peace, love & wealth!
misha would like to wish for more peace for the world. P.E.A.C.E!
Jacelyn would like to wish hubby may overcome his business downturn soon.
Girlie would like to wish for her cousin Marie to win in the coming barangay elections.
Francine wishes that hubby will manage to finish his big project before the deadline.
Krisa wishes that Ate Marie wins the coming barangay election & Ryan finds a job soon.
Juliana would like to wish for that much awaited "little one.
Genny would like to wish for debt free life, happiness, success, health & lots of friends.

Vanidosa, Marie would like to win as Chairman in the Barangay Election & good health.
Ann wishes to be forgiven for meme tardiness.
Claire wishes for the bright future of her two bundles of joy.
Colin would wish for more hours in the day, and peace, health & prosperity for everyone.

Yen wishes to have a safe delivery with my 2nd child.

Digitally Diane loves A Handful of Surprises and wishes to have our own child.
Emmyrose wishes for more strength to cope with her Lupus disease.

Kathycot wishes for good health, happiness, love & wealth for family & friends!
Rosemarie wishes that my mother & cousins win this coming barangay election.
Yigae would like to wish herself and her family a happy life.
Rowena wishes for good health, inner peace and sanity, good health and happiness.
Tere would like to wish for happiness, good health & protection always!
Nita wishes to have a smooth and safe delivery for her second baby :)
Joyce wishes to have a safe and uncomplicated delivery of Baby JE any day now.
Jenny L wishes for good health, to find love, more wisdom & great family relations.
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Welcome aboard the Magical Flying Carpet for the Ride of your Life!

Alakazam!

***End Copying Here***

Now, I will shock 5 people by tagging them. If you can't beat them...
Maria, Frank, Josie, Conan_cat, RJ

Don't Quit!

As time goes by it becomes a little bit more difficult to remember things. About 7-8 years ago I was in tears, distraught over my vanishing memory, but I'm over that now. Can't remember why I was so upset.

Even though I walk into rooms only to forget why I've come in there, this poem seems to stick in my head. It is the perfect type of sing-song poem I learned as a child, but more importantly the message is spot on!

It seems that as I get older and more "realistic", the reasons why I can't do some thing become myriad, maybe it's true for you as well? You've a goal you're trying to accomplish and man, it seems to be taking forever, maybe you're not supposed to do it, maybe the Universe is saying no? NO! It's no when I say, and not a minute before.

I am sorry that the author of this cherished bit of wisdom is unknown because clearly, they were onto something. So if you've read it before read it again, and if you haven't read it before, please do so now.

Don't Quit

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill
When the funds are low and the debts are high
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh
When care is pressing you down a bit
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns
As every one of us sometimes learns
And many a fellow turns about
When he might have won, had he stuck it out.
Don't give up though the pace seems slow
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than
It seems to a faint and faltering man;
Often the struggler has given up
When he might have captured the victor's cup;
And he learned too late when the night came down
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt
And you never can tell how close you are
It may be near when it seems afar;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit
It's when things seem worst that you mustn't quit.

Author Unknown

Brad Pitt- He's Not That Boy Anymore

One of the features on the news today was about Brad Pitt. Stories about Brad Pitt are not unusual the man has been celebrity newsworthy for a couple of decades now, what was interesting was the focus of the story. Pitt is aging.

I can remember the first time I saw him, all full of swagger, cute as a bug and about to shear Gena Davis' horns in "Thelma and Louise". While he was too "girl pretty" to make my breath quicken, he was still pretty fun to watch. I'd guess he was in his early twenties then and over the years he's gone on to get married, divorced, find another relationship, become a father to four, in short, he grew up.

When you actually, really, finally grow up, a lot of times it involves aging. Brad Pitt is now 43 years old and even he realizes he's not that boy anymore. In an interview for Details magazine he says: “One thing sucks, your face kind of goes. Your body’s not quite working the same. But you earned it. You earned that, things falling apart.”

Pretty insightful if you ask me. Aging is something that happens if you're lucky. It's up to each of us how that gets expressed.

I Heart The Internet-Part 4,

SO looks across the room and asks: "What are you laughing at?" "The Bible Lego thing" I reply.

What, you might ask, is the Bible Lego thing? Well it's The Brick Testament and I feel the need to caution you, you could really waste some time there. If however, you're in need of a chuckle, and who isn't, please visit this site.

I've never been to Legoland, and the most I could do when I was of Lego age was make a chair by putting two pieces together. I have always been in awe of people who could make airplanes, cars, and such but this, this is beyond words. The Brick Testament is quite simply, Bible stories illustrated using Lego pieces. Some of these illustrations were just too funny like one of my favorites, Instructions on a Marriage.

Just a bit of warning: if you're pretty sacred about Bible stories you might find some of the images offensive. Fortunately there's a legend at the bottom of each page that will tell you which illustrations have nudity, violence, sexual content, or cursing.

Imagine that, Legos offensive. Enjoy!

No Dreams of Memes

Before I entered the World of Blogging, I'd receive them in my email inbox: "chocolate or vanilla?", "coke or pepsi?", and a lot of other trivial questions from friends. The arrival of these emails would always be met with a groan and most probably a delete, occasionally if in a beneficent mood I'd answer them and send them on to at least "five other friends". Now that I've entered the blogosphere I find that these little questionnaires have an actual name-meme.

I will admit that the first couple of times I saw the word meme I was perplexed. Huh? WTF? Thank goodness for Wikipedia. Wikipedia has a wealth of information about the subject however, I was able to find a simple definition by psychologist, Susan Blackmore: Whatever is copied from one person to another person, whether habits, skills, songs, stories, or any other kind of information.

Another confession I have is I don't really care for memes. In the short time I've been blogging I've developed a list of folks I visit everyday, their writing makes me smile or think or reminisce. Not all of these people write daily, but I check anyway because I need my "fix". When I go to a blog and I find a meme I feel let down; as if I've gone to see a much anticipated Broadway show and found the lead being played by the understudy. The lines may be the same but something is lost in the delivery.

Does that make me a curmudgeon? Certainly, better and more eloquent bloggers than myself have participated in memes, maybe they're able to let down their guard a bit more.

I will also confess that when I was recently "tagged" for a meme by my friend, Conan_cat I was pretty close to answering it. My young friend said he'd tagged me because "technically, you've haven't reached your menopause yet." How could I not love that? Why, I felt rather like one of kids chosen first for a team in school.

I mentioned to SO that I might be answering this meme and was met by an ominous, "remember, what you write remains forever on the internet." While SO can occasionally be in possession of large, pointy, needles to insert in my balloons, I can't negate the statement. What I write, how much information I give directly stays for all to see and I guess, I'm not ready yet.

So I'm memeless for the moment. By the way, it's chocolate, and coke.

And The Thought For Today Is...

Shake what your mama gave you!

I just love the way that sounds, it always makes me smile. So today, shake what your mama gave you and glory in it.

Appropriate music:

-I'm Too Sexy
-Pretty Woman
-Can't Touch This (by M.C. Hammer)
-(I'm Still) Jenny From The Block
-I Like The Way You Move (by Outkast)
-Baby's Got Back (by Sir Mix-A-Lot)


or any music you have that makes you want to move. You can sit, stand, dance, chair dance, snap your fingers or tap your feet. Do something that makes you know, even for a bit, that your glass is half full, that every day ABOVE ground is a good day and it matters that you're still here.

SO and I are celebrating our anniversary this weekend. See ya next week!
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