LinkUp Loser's BF

Something about the internet gives people the false assumption that they can criticize and belittle complete strangers without remorse. What is it about the internet that rids the human senses of any sort of respect, propriety and courtesy?

Another friend of mine received a disturbing Op/Ed from some random LDSLinkUp lurker just a bit ago criticizing her enjoyment of, of all things, Diet Coke.

Again, just as before with my other friend, she does not know him. She has never had contact with him. His email is below and it is in regard to my friend's "Interests" section of her profile which simply says: "I LOVE to travel and I LOVE diet coke!" (Hold on to your senses, this is a gem!)

Anyone ever tell you that stuff's bad for you? The Diet Coke you say you love. You know... like maybe the prophet, or leaders of the church you belong to... or just plain old hard research?Maybe it's none of my business... but frankly I'm a bit taken back that a member... and a teacher who is supposedly educated and even athletic... aparently doesn't know any better. Do you even know what happens to Aspartame when it enters the body? Have you ever bothered to even look it up on the internet and find out? Do you ever question anything as an educator?Well in case you haven't... I'll tell you straight out. It turns into a chrystaline wood-like substance that CAN NOT be removed from the body once it is inside.Aspartame has been linked to cancer in rats, and causes MS symptoms in people with prolonged use. It's also rumored to be one of the causes of Toxic Shock syndrome that many of our military men have been sent home from Iraq for. Maybe you don't think it's any of my business what you put in your body. And maybe your right... I wonder if you say the same thing about the bretheren of the church who have warned against it for years?Just a thought...

She wrote back to defend herself. His response:

Call it what you want... it sure sounds like more rationalization to me. One diet coke a day? Who do you think you're kidding?Funny... most people (adults anyway), tend to drop a subject and ignore information that doesn't suit them. I must have really touched a nerve! Sorry if I upset you... or made you cry. I used to think that teachers were some of the coolest people on the planet... My mistake I suppose.Gotta LOVE Apathy... it's a great rationalization tool! Probably one of the best!!!You should work on not taking everything people say or write to you so seriously. That's a very unattractive quality!

This is not the complete script of the email. Other parts include that she was obviously looking for a "yes man", as in a guy who would never question or challenge her on anything. And he felt it necessary to tell her that he would tire of her after a while and wished her luck with her boring marriage.

Homeboy is delusional and an ass. Unnecessary. Unbelievable. Uncool. He sucks.

High hilarity

I would like to plug some laugh-outloud comedy.

Television has truly outdone itself. I recorded two shows on my DVR this past week and I have just been able to watch them. If it has been more than 1.5 months since you let out a boisterous laugh, I suggest you tune in to NBC on Tuesday nights.

For years I have found complete entertainment by way of Japanese game show video clips on YouTube. And now, America has brought it home! To an extent. If you haven't already seen, there is a new show about ten Americans excited to be on a new reality show only to find out that they are competing in Japan on a real Japanese game show! Note: Japanese game shows rarely abide by any rules which equals: total fun and ridiculousness. I laughed my head off.



The second show I can't get enough of is "Wipeout". I laughed so hard I practically cried. Now that is a whole lot of laughter.

Fuzzy Love

I will be gone for the rest of the week at a super exhilerating work "getaway/sit and listen" conference in Orlando, FL. Which mean, this post will likely be my last chance to get any blogging in until next week.

With that forethought, I feel confident and comfortable leaving my blog under the watchful eye of two of my favorite fuzzy friends:

- this hamster I received on a card from Christy Wallaker. His paws are too cute!

- And representing my new favorite animal breed, Knut, the polar bear that at a young age, captivated the world.


Until next time, be pleasantly overwhelmed by cute overload!

And as an addition, Erika (McCall) Johnson, now so wise in her years, makes a good point. Kimball, my nephew, makes the overload complete. This is Erik, Kimball and I at "Bug's Life" at Disneyland. Bring it.

Boyce Avenue

I know what you're saying, "Miriam, are you getting paid to promote?"

And my answer to you is: I wish!

I have nothing much to talk about these days, which is usually a sign that I am not busy. I find that when I am most pressed for my time, my brain is its most active and creative. So, considering I spent the entire day at the pool on Saturday and not doing much else any other time, my brain is pretty much waveless right now.

So, I resort to plugging other people's talents and hard work.

One day not too long ago, while tooling around YouTube I found this band called Boyce Avenue. They do a lot of their own stuff, but they have promoted themselves through their covers of other material. They have a long list of cover songs that are all pleasant and unique to their style.

Introducing my favorite YouTube group: Boyce Avenue with their version of Coldplay's "Viva la Vida". (How that boy can keep a drum beat, play a guitar and sing all at the same time is beyond me!)

Who needs Vogue? I prefer Eliza.

I am not much into fashion magazines. In fact, I don't even find myself reading the front covers of these publications while in line at the grocery store. I think my disinterest stems mostly from my disregard for keeping up with changing styles, trends and definitely, high fashion.

In general, I consider myself a pretty simple person and I prefer squeek by with what I have in my closet or whatever I can find on my frustrated tirades in the mall after I realize my outdated clothes and style of dress are offensive to current trends.

All that being said, I am not opposed to new options...

"Eliza" is the one exception to my disinterest in fashion.

"Eliza" magazine is one chicky magazine that I recently picked up and was immediately interested in. I browsed through it actually liking a lot of the styles being modeled and showcased. I thought the articles were engaging and fresh and there was nothing of an offensive or questionable nature throughout the magazine. It was full of ideas for the modest and style-minded consumer as well as, the everyday "I wear clothes" consumer such as myself.

Check it out for yourself. Eliza magazine, a modest and modern fashion magazine.

http://www.elizamagazine.com/

Priceless gifts

Last year's birthday gift...courtesy of Eva Jane Hirt...

Two "Hebrew National" weiners:
$1.24 on WAMU Debit Mastercard

Two generic hot dog buns:
$0.16 on WAMU Debit Mastercard

4-minutes and enough time to change out of my work clothes:
A few kwh and some burned calories.

Two perfectly toasted hot dogs in warm hot dog buns, only slightly charred:
Heaven.


When you thought preparing a hot dog couldn't get any simpler: Priceless.

For everything else, there's probably a specialized appliance too.

The Oh Ho Down! Yee haw!

What better way to celebrate my 31st birthday than in a country bar in Long Beach with my close friends?! (KJ suggested hanging out at Baskin-Robbins 31 Ice Cream, which is also not a bad idea I say...)

For some reason, every year I get a birthday party. I don't know how or why it happens, but I guess I just get lucky or maybe I have some pretty great friends and family who love me enough to willingly do whatever I want.

This year, we headed out to "Cowboy Country" in Long Beach, CA. Not the most ideal setting for a country ho-down, but after the night we had, we weren't complaining.

Thanks everyone for making 31 fun!

This 5-layer cake was a mouthful, and couldn't hold all 31 candles, though, still glowed like an inferno!

This gentleman really made the night! He asked all of us girls individually to dance and taught us all the 2-step. It was so much fun and he was so nice!

My sister took care of the evening for all of us. It was good to see her. Now that she lives in Orange County and travels all the time, we rarely have time to catch up.

No one really wanted to come, but once we all got there, it was a blast! No bar brawls...darn!

Such gentlemen! My redneck (self-proclaimed so no hurt feelings) and I, and KJ and her cowboy. Do men still really ask girls to dance? Yes!

KJ organized the evening and perhaps selfishly because I think she knew she would have the most fun. Obviously.

We learned one line dance. Turbo. It was country-ish. Line dancing is hands down fun!

Esther brought the fringe and tassles.

I got some girly clothes and accessories from my sis.

We danced as much as was possible.

It was such a fun night! Topped off by some domestic violence in the parking lot (no physical harm, only shouting, cussing, wife-beater t-shirts and poking), the night couldn't have been more enjoyable!

Thanks everyone! You are good sports and the night was just as I had hoped it would be! All country, all friends, all fun!