E-Bills

Since the Hubby and I moved to Decatur we've been getting our first month's bills in the mailbox. I've realized over the past week how much I reaalllly miss e-bills. We do our banking and bill paying completely online with the bills sent to our e-mail, and it's a glorious way to shell out tons of bucks. Paper=bad.

Say What?

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Yesterday, regarding my interactions with complete strangers, was a weird day. While walking up the courthouse steps a woman, appearing to be in her late sixties or so, stopped Baby Girl and me. She commented on Ella's hair being red...the SAME color as mine, mind you...normal conversation these days. But, then she said, "Those redheads are a different breed of people". All I could say was, "Yep". Then, later in the day, I attempt to order an iced "skinny mocha" from Starbucks. The drive-thru operator proceeds to tell me that it's been discontinued due to not selling well. I nonchalantly commented that I guess my order didn't matter. Instead of answering with a lame and cheesy, yet expected, "Oh, every customer matters, yada, yada, the not so motivated saleswoman says, "Yeah, probably not". Let's think before we spout opinions, why don't we.

Happy Birthday, Dad!!!

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Instead of looking at it as being another year older, view it as you're just that much closer to retirement:) Love ya!

Nobel Lit Prize Winner Dies

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This story caught my eye on msnbc.com this evening. Russian native, Alexander Solzenitsyn died of heart failure today. He won the Nobel Literature prize in 1970. After reading the article I'm ashamed to say I don't recall hearing of him. It seems that he wrote several works regarding his torture in and eventual exit from Stalin's labor camps. First of all, when one thinks of horrible words such as "genocide" and "concentration camps" the name and face of Adolf Hitler are probably more apt to appear in one's mind than that of Josef Stalin, although maybe it's just me. I can name several authors who were Jewish survivors of camps such as Auschwitz and Dakau...even one that made up the story of being a survivor, but I regret not knowing more about this man's world.

Regardless, as I was reading further into the article I came across a quote from Solzenitsyn, who lived in Vermont since his work earned him banishment from "Mother Russia". The quote reads, "It was a mistake, he warned, for Western societies to regard the failure of the rest of the world to adopt the democratic model as a product of "wicked governments or by heavy crises or by their own barbarity or incomprehension." He may have been an extremist to some degree, but I tend to agree with that quote as it stands alone. America's way doesn't have to be everyone's way. Rest in Peace, Alexander Solzenitsyn.

Hands, Feet and Brows...Oh, My.

[pic found on zoo-m.com/flickrstorm]

I used a gift certificate today to receive a pedicure, manicure and eyebrow wax. The gift was given to me by my Dad and step-mom over two years ago, hehe...life's been a bit busy:) Anyway, I loved the pedicure, there wasn't much to the manicure since I keep my nails boy-short, and my eyebrows have never looked better. One can only pluck so much before the pain is just not worth it. With a wax, however, the pain is minimal, fast fleeting, and the results are way better. So long to plucking...for-ev-er.

Yep, Same Guy

I watched the end of an episode of "Monk" today with my Dad. I asked him if the guy playing the lead detective guy (not Tony Schaloub) was the same guy that wore the coat made of skins in "Silence of the Lambs" [ick]. Dad said, "Nah, not the same guy". Several minutes later he asks me to Google it when I get a chance...apparently he was bothered by it. So, I googled, and the actor is Ted Levine who played the whacked out "Buffalo Bill" in "Lambs" and plays Captain Stottlemeyer in "Monk". The guy's voice is unmistakable. Oh, and Dad, one cool knowing-pointless-trivia point for me:)

Not Just London Bridges

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It appears that today was/is the first anniversary of the Minneapolis Bridge collapse. I remember seeing that on TV, of course, and it's been one of those stories that plays in the back of my mind every time I drive over a bridge. It truly was a tragic event. While browsing over related articles though I saw a site that gives bridge inspection dates and conditions all over the U.S. I looked at a few around Tarrant County, and they seem to be good. Good to know.