Willow Tree

It's a Dog's Life

Dogs in Israel take note. You are now protected from the wrath of a frightened police officer.
Especially if you are cute.

maybe we could extend that rightwing Israeli citizens, like those in Amona....

I'm RICH!!!!

I've invented fiterdenotoes and everyone is buying. They come in all shapes, sizes and colors and most people are ordering more than one. Why one customer ordered a hundred of them , just for herself. Her husband wanted 90!

So, I'm rich. And it looks like I'm going to be rich for a long, long time.

And I'm in such a good mood. I don't want to rake in the billions myself. I want my friends to have their own fortunes...

So, I'm investing in your dreams by helping you become independently wealthy as well.

What is it you would do with the money I'm going to give you? What would you build/make/create/learn? What would your company be called? Where would you locate your company? Tell me all about it....

'cause you know I'm investing my hard earned and I really want to know.

Funky Radio

One of the things I do while working, to keep myself from going absoulutely nuts I listen to radio programs. One of the new stations I've been listening to is DECODER RING THEATRE via podcast. I've listened to two funky shows: the Red Panda, 50ish superhero with his sidekick, the Flying Squirrel, and BLack Jack Justice, the hardboiled detective and his right hand, Trixie, the Girl Detective. Think 30's all the way.

Fun, funky and just too good to be true. So swing on by and get an earful.

Oh, and if you listen to radio programs, versus music on the internet or talk shows etc, tell me what they are; blasts from the past or lightspeed future, they give me a kick and help me work faster.

So Why Couldn't I Think of This?

Or what can't be bought on e-bay.

AMAZING DISCOVERY!!!!!

Today marks the day of a remarkable achievement, a find so astounding I just had to announce it. And it was discovered RIGHT HERE, in my house.

THE BOTTOM OF THE LAUNDRY HAMPER!!!!

Yes, amazing but true, the actual bottom of the laundry hamper has been found. It is blue. Same color as the outside of the hamper but it has been so long since I've seen bottom that I just didn't remember it.

Too bad my camera broke or you'd have exclusive rights to the first photos of the event.

As it stands, you'll just have to stand in awe of my achievement.

Of course it won't last long. There's todays laundry coming in.....

How Pathetic Is This

No, this pig was not drawn by the Artist or the Monkey it was drawn by moi.

Hey, I waited till after work?

So...my chances of getting a job as an illustrator are
1. Go for it girl!
2. Um, sure. Try anything
3. Keep your day job.
4. NEVER EVER DRAW AGAIN!!!

Do you Stumble?

I just upgraded my Firefox and was looking at extentions, found Stumble. It is fun.
Some great finds, both useless, helpful and sweet.:

A juggler
and
Cooking by Numbers.
Pets and their pluses

Can't I get a job surfing? I'd be great at it.

Just Because

Laughter is the best medicine

via sundries shack.
My kids need to see this.

On the Lighter Side: Cats In Sink

Because the dh said I should blog on this.
I think this proves once and for all that you can find anything on the internet.

So which is your favorite? I liked the double sink view, and also the one where it looks like little kitty is trying to turn on the water.

Now that would be one surprised kitty!

Mmmmmmmm Milk Flavored

Is there really such a candy somewhere in the world?

Anyway..via Owlish Mutterings

what flavor pocky are you?

[c] sugardew

Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, a quiz

Sheesh, I've got to crack open those history books and take a look at the world around me.

Thanks Margri. I've got to figure out a way to make you pay for this.

Your IQ Is 115

Your Logical Intelligence is Exceptional Your Verbal Intelligence is Genius Your Mathematical Intelligence is Genius Your General Knowledge is Below Average

Good Idea/Bad Idea

Good Idea:
Eat lots of veggies over the course of the day.

Bad Idea:
Eat tons of veggies over the course of a few hours. Top with two cups of strong coffee, and a late night snack of garbanzo beans. Then wake in the morning nad have another cup of strong coffee.

Bad, idea. Unless of course one really, really, really loves one's bathroom decor.

Which I don't.

Excuse me. BRB

You Have Got to See This

I mean you really have to see this! It is amazing.

(via an e-mail)

I Confess

Reality shows and me, for the most part, don't mix. They aren't really "reality" and I find people eating bugs or trying to mimic love to gain money, not my cup of tea.

But I'm really enjoying HE'S A LADY.

For those in the US, the truth is now known, and because I went to the site to find out more, I know my fave guy won as well. (Dave and his wife are just so sweet together, and I loved the interaction between Dave, his sone and his step-daughter).

The show is fun, the challenges are humorous, and mostly the spirit is good. It is interesting to watch the progress and how feminine some of the men appear to be and how even the guys who I thought would never look like ladies take on, as the weeks pass, a more feminine demeanor.

During this same period an intense discussion is going on one of my e-mail lists about the differences between men and women, specifically in terms of men's reactions to the female figure (and the laws of modesty). "Men" to paraphrase one writer "Are more strongly visually stimulated than women. Science has proved that"

Me, who is both always ready for a good argument and who dislikes statements without at least some backing said.

"Show me the study!"

Someone showed me a study; (if the URL doesn't work it is the study called Gender and Love. Just back up, go to Science Central to find the article.) however, this study, as its name implies, dealt with how the person's brain reacted to the site of a loved one. It doesn't tell us that men are more strongly stimulated (by a female figure) than women are by a male figure in general, nor does it tell us that men are more stimulated by visual presentations than women are, nor does it tell us if it is the stimuli which evokes the response, and not the viewer: ie, do women and men both react more strongly to a female figure than to a male figure (as one synopsis of a study seemed to imply--however, since the reference wasn't scientific I'm not including the url.) It doesn't show which part of one's brain would react to smell/touch/sound/presence of a loved one.

The study was also quite small, 7 men and ten women, so I'm not sure how definitive it is, and I would have liked to see the brain scans of all the participants, and a map showing the areas of the brain (because it seems to me that the woman is also responding, and quite strongly, in her visual cortex, if I remember my brain map correctly).

And furthermore, while these are responses to visual stimuli. It would seem to indicate that women have more diverse associations with visual stimulation, not that they don't react to visual stimulation, and so while men may look at a picture of a woman and be more visually affected, it doesn't mean that the woman isn't having as strong of a reaction, but, perhaps, that the reaction is more diffused through different area s of her brain. Nor does it indicate if men and women are hard wired for these reactions or if these reactions are socially developed.

All of which leads me to the question of what you all (who have made it through this ramble) think about the nature of the difference between men and women? Does it matter? How do the differences affect our daily life? Do you think that taking on the role of the opposite gender, even for a short time, can deeply change who you are inside? What is hard wired into us, what is not?

What does it mean to be a woman vs a man?

I'm Selling

A piece of Challah bitten by Kid Caesar (my dog). Opening bid at $10.00 (USD) plus shipping and handling. I do not guarantee the Challah (bitten by my dog Caesar) will arrive in unmolded condition. His saliva will most likely have dried by then. It may even be stale. It may be in crumbs. But I fgure if has about as much value as this.
via balloon juice.

Next week I'll be selling some bottled Isareli air, and some bottled sand from Israel. Both opening bid for both, $15.00 (USD, plus shipping and handling). Bid now and you get them for only $10.

Oh and Before I Go

Ten points to the one who guesses the author and book of the quote below. What will ten points get you? TEN POINTS! What, doesn't that make you feel honored?
(and yeah, I'm stealing the idea from Jim Look to the right and a bit down on his blog.)

Here's the quote:

"To my mother the world was a vast quilt whose stitches were always coming undone. Her worrying somehow worked like a needle, tightening those dangerous seams."

Oh the Angst!

Hey I could have predicted this! I know I've a loner personality. Too much togetherness makes me antsy. So nu, what's your score?
(via Joel of Pax Nortona

You scored as Loner. Loner 88% Stoner 31% Punk/Rebel 31% Drama nerd 31% Goth 31% Geek 25% Ghetto gangsta 13% Prep/Jock/Cheerleader 0% What's Your High School Stereotype? created with QuizFarm.com

Thanks Diane! I Don't Need to Clean!

Total time waster, for those who are either avoiding work (like me) or don't have anything better to do.

Let me know who won the fight.

Just for Fun--Automatic Flatter

I got this from an e-mail pal. If you are having a bad day go here, it is sure to pick your spirits up! And if you are having a great day go there anyway, it will really make you laugh!

Dim Night Light

My dh just came downstairs with a bit of cardboard in his hand.
"You have to read this!" he said. It was the packaging to the new nightlight for the Monkey.

Here it is in full, exactly as written. Enjoy! (someone had fun with a dictionary.)

OBSCURITY NIGHT LIGHT

WITH SLINKY. SMALL AND EXQUISITE S HAPE. WITH ADVANCED OIRCUN AND RAW MATERIAL OBSUCRITY NIGHT LIGHT SERIES IS SAFE AND POWER SAVING UNDER 110V/60Hz 220V/50Hz YOU MAY HAVE SIX KINDS OF COLOURS OF CHOICES WHITE,RED,YELLOW,BLUE,GREEN,PURPLE, WHITE LIGHT IS STRONG, WHICH IS SUITABLE TO STANS, CAHNNELS AND TOLLER YELLOW LIGHT PINK LIGHT AND BLUE LIGHT ARE SUITABLE TO BEDROOM AND LIVING ROOM, WHICH IS NOT GLARING WHILE YOU WHAT TV OR SLEEP. BLUE LIGHT, GREEN LIGHT, RED LIDGHT, YELLOW LIGHT AND PURPLE LIGHT COULD ALSO BE USED IN KARA OK ROOM. FISH JAR AND DECORATION CLOSED. THE NIGHT SERIES COULD MAKE YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE.

Hmmm. anyone try and do a Jumping Frog contest take off (Mark Twain translated his story into French and then back into English. Keep a second pair of underwear handy) and switch this back into Japanese? (where I assume the light came from. It hasn't a country written on it.)

So, What Planet are You From? (yes, a quiz)

Because I'm still a bit depressed, my dreams have been pathetic lately (about house building and little color) I have humongous amounts of work to do to get ready for Shabbat (because I was lazy and sulking yesterday) and because I have this post floating around in my brain that won't, despite great pressure and exertion, swim down into my fingers and out onto the screen.

So without further ado!

You Are From Neptune

You are dreamy and mystical, with a natural psychic ability. You love music, poetry, dance, and (most of all) the open sea. Your soul is filled with possibilities, and your heart overflows with compassion. You can be in a room full of friendly people and feel all alone. If you don't get carried away with one idea, your spiritual nature will see you through anything.

Well I Guess I Needed That!

I ended up sleeping for 12 hours last night. 12 hrs!!! I haven't slept 12 hours straight...well, I never slept 12 hours straight. Ask my mom. She use to leave food out for me by my bed so I'd stop waking her up at night. I guess I was a bit more sleep deprived than I was willing to admit.

In other news; I'm going to speak with my daughter's teacher tomorrow. Deep breaths, deep breaths. I made the appointment; there are some things I want to discuss, but I'm nervous anyway.

The Artist is dyslexic; the diagnosis was made by me but I have every reason to believe, based on my prior experience with my other children, that her odd learning gaps were not within the normal range of learning. For example; she counted and spoke quite early in life---but she couldn't name the number 7, written in isolation (as on a digital clock) unless she counted up to the number 7. Since the number was in isolation, or in fact along with other numbers in an unordered pattern, it was clear she understood the number, that it represented a concept of 7 somethings etc. etc, she simply could not recall its name. She had similar problems with naming other what should have been familiar noun words.

Similarly, I believe she might be ADD as well; she always losing things, can't organize herself at all, loses focus easily. I see myself in her as this was definitely me when I was younger. My teachers' main complaints about me as a youngster were that I wasn't living up to my potential and that I was always daydreaming. At least in this area I have an advantage over my parents; ADD was less well known when I was growing up and I don't know if at that period in time people realized that girls were subject to it as well.

Another advantage my daughter has is that she is not expected to do as well because she doesn't speak Hebrew well yet at all. While she understand much more than I believe the teacher realizes, her speaking ability and reading/understanding ability in Hebrew lags far behind the rest of the children in her class. That her mind might drift in class is to be expected when in fact most of what the teacher is speaking about is completely over her head in terms of simply understanding the language.

This second advantage is also a disadvantage of course as well; are some of the difficulties she is having in acquiring the language because she is shy, or because she is possibly (I would say probably) ADD? How much of an impact does her learning disabilities have on her acquiring a new language that neither her father nor I speak well at home?

So, there are many questions that I must pose to the teacher and just as many difficulties in trying to make this form of education work for my daughter; scores on the report care being much less important than her overall sense of well being. And I will have to do it primarily in Hebrew, as I'm not certain how well her teacher understands English. This is bound to be a rather interesting interview.

What Biological Molecule are You?

I got this quiz off Mountaineer Musings one of the new blogs I found via blogexplosion

You are water. You're not really organic; you're
neither acidic nor basic, yet you're an acid
and a base at the same time. You're strong
willed and opinionated, but relaxed and ready
to flow. So while you often seem worthless,
without you, everything would just not work.
People should definitely drink more of you
every day.


Which Biological Molecule Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Okay, but the Beards Got to Go

Aka, another silly quiz, via absinthe & cookies.

Meanwhile, a bit of a laugh

Hmm, I wonder if they have had any offers yet?
Scroll down to the third picture and take a look out the window.
I wonder if you get a free puppy with purchase?

Silly Quiz Time

I didn't have cable when Fraggle Rock first came on, and by the time we got cable it was already history. We did get to see a couple of shows. But this was fun. Via twelveone.org, via genuine, via hey lisa (hey lisa, we are cut from the same fraggle cloth! And you have the greatest graphics up!) who found the quiz on the Fraggle Rock board.
Who ever knew there was a Fraggle Rock board.
Anyway, here's my fraggly self.

You are Mokey Fraggle.


Which Fraggle Rock Character Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Hit Me With Your Best Shot

Joke that is. Or link to a funny site. Or something crazy that happened to you. Come on, I could stand some cheering up here, and I have a feeling I'm not alone in my blues mood. So hit me with your best piece of humor.

In the mean time, check out LInda's lastest entry. and eyenos on college eating.

And here's mine, via email:

Why are bosses like legs?

When they get to the top they become asses.

ARGHHHHHHHH!!!! I know that was bad!!!!

The Wit Shared this with Me

And I had a good laugh. Thought you might also.

JOKE

The room is starting to spin about; I'm coming down with something no doubt,
so as not to leave the day broke, I'm leaving you this joke.

I heard it during a Shabbat shiur (lesson) so you know it's clean.

A group of scientists came to G-d and said; "G-d, we don't need you anymore. We now know how to create life."
"Ok" G-d said "How?"
"Well, it's easy. See we just take some dirt and form it into a human like shape, and then we breathe life into it."
"Ok" G-d told them "Go ahead."
So the scientist started to gather together some dust and G-d said:

"Uh, uh. Go create your own dirt!"

Okay, it was funnier when my friend told it.

Hope my head stops spinning by tomorrow.

have a goodday and goodnight.