Slop Invasion

Although I've always considered myself to be an open thinker, age must be sinking in because the other night I was truly bothered by the casual appearance of many patrons at a fine dining establishment. My husband and I visited Ruth Chris to celebrate our 28th anniversary. Although years ago, I would have put on pantyhose and a dressy dress while

he'd have worn a suit and tie, society has relaxed its dress code. Still, I wore a dress with open-toed shoes while he wore khaki pants and a collared shirt. I consider this style to be dress casual but fitting for a fancy restaurant in 2014.

Photo from Wall Street Journal 4/9/11

At the surrounding tables, people wore jeans. One fellow even had the gaul to be seated with work out shorts and a T-shirt! Since when is it appropriate to wear sloppy attire when dining in a nice restaurant? Our servers wore tuxes while the manager had a suit on. Are we that lax of a society where people can dress sloppy when fine dining? I've also noticed this lack of style at the Orpheum Theatre. Once again, shouldn't a live stage production at a pristine place require at least a casual skirt or collared shirt?

Maybe I'm old school, but this societal casualness seems to have gone a bit too far for someone who used to dress up for air travel. Although, I'm glad we don't dress in that venue anymore with all of the extended wait times at the airport.

So, I ask, Dear Readers, is this lack of formality American or taking part throughout the world?

#WW Wordless Wednesday: Tug of War

#MM : I'm Playing Our Song ♫

On May 25, 1986, Americans attempted to make a human chain called Hands Across America. The idea was to raise money for charity by having people join hands from coast to coast. Unfortunately, the chain broke in the sparse western United States. On the same day strangers linked hands, my husband and I joined our hands in Holy Matrimony. Yep! Twenty-eight years later, and we're still hitched. 

Since it's our wedding anniversary, it makes sense to play our song. It's words and meaning aren't the best pick, but it's the huge hit we danced to during our dating days, and we've always claimed it to be our song. Here's George Michael singing ♯♫ Careless Whisper. ♩♬

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the ACTUAL LINK POST here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava’s Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.




PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

Last Day of School

Tomorrow is the last day of school, so I figured I'd share what's in my head.

Bleg bleggy bleg ah no no KIDS

razma googoo bugabear TECHNOLOGY

stacka tracka mu mu QUIET

ble ble ble pffffft. 

DOES NOT COMPUTE, ANYMORE

  . . . OR READ 

    . . . OR SPELL

       . . . OR THINK 

        . . . OR EXPERIMENT

           . . . OR ESPECIALLY WRITE IEPS.

 

Unintelligibgibly am I,

Joyce

If you're a teacher, stop by Teacher's Pay Teachers and pick up my "Tired Teachers' " Logic Problem. It's good for a few laughs while challenging your students. Plus, I wrote it before I totally lost my mind.

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Tired-Teachers-Logic-Problem-End-of-School-YearPre-vacation-Humor-1212723

#WW: Can You Relate?

Friday is our last day of school.

I'm ready for summer, is an understatement.

Many of your comments tell me that you're not relating. I AM THE OWL ON THE RIGHT. I enjoyed your kids all year long, and it is now YOUR turn. Mine are grown. Summer means VACATION. As you struggle with your one, two, or three, think of me with a room full.

Female Artists of the Sixties Through Eighties

This week's theme is female artists of the sixties through the eighties, which was hard to narrow down with so many great songs and artists. I like to keep my posts short.

Speaking of females artist of that era, did I ever tell you about the time I didn't see Diana Ross? I was in the Bermuda airport when I noticed everyone looking my way but didn't know why. Later, I learned that she was directly behind me. Dang! If only I would have stopped and turned around.

Let's start with Jefferson Starship's Gracie Slick. I saw her perform when in college.

And, here's one of my faves by Sylvia. I sometimes catch myself singing this tune, even though my husband hasn't given me a reason to.

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the ACTUAL LINK POST here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava’s Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.






PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

RentBack Books Brings Smiles

Congratulations. You graduated high school, and you're completing last minute plans for college. You've saved for tuition, room and board, and even the little extras for the dorm room. But have you thought about books? I wonder how many people get bowled over from sticker shock when purchasing college textbooks. They aren't cheap! However, now you have a new option to get ready for school without forking over another thousand dollars on books. 

I'm talking about CampusBookRentals.com, and their fairly new program Rent Back Books. RentBack is a new initiative that allows students to rent the textbooks they own - to other students... which is awesome because it makes them 2-4x more money compared to what they'd make through buyback options.

Here's a clip to show you how book rentals work:

Here are some perks:

-save 40-90% off of bookstore prices

-free shipping both ways

-can highlight in the textbooks

-flexible renting periods

-they donate to Operation Smile with each textbook rented

Operation Smile is a wonderful program that provides crucial surgery to repair cleft lip, cleft palate, or other facial deformities for chilldren around the globe. 

Every time you rent a book from CampusBookRentals.com, a donation will be made to help a child get a smile. What could be better than that?

So what are you waiting for? Check out CampusBookRentals.com and www.RentBack.com.

#WW Dog Shaming

#MM : Young From When We Were Young (Plus a Bonus Hot Dog Tune)

I hadn't heard tell of the talented Neil Young in years, but now I just learned he is still touring and has a new album coming out. Who would have guessed? I'm sure his new music is great, but I'm a fan of the old songs. Twenty-four no more. Take a look at his life.

Born November 12, 1945, this next song 
fits him better these days. (:o)  My bad.

And finally, here's the song that's been stuck 
in my head these past few days. Wonder why? 
Could it be that I took a ride in a Wiener Mobile? 
More about that later.

Motherly Advice Before Mother's Day

Baby Escapes Papoose for Dad Time!

I've always been told I'm a good mother. Of course that's not what my kids say. They think I'm embarrassing, but I'm just enjoying payback. How many times do or did your kids make you want to hide under a store clothing rack? Sometimes they'd humiliate me so much that I'd loudly announce, "Aunt Joyce is going to return you kids to your mama!"

Little did I predict, they now occasionally call me Aunt Joyce when in public.

Since my kids grew up to be fine adults, I'm allowed to give free parenting advice. First of all, the baby stage is the most important time for human development. Each day, I'd get up, get dressed, and strap my baby into a snuggle sack. I'd walk around all day with that baby attached to my chest like a papoose. While wearing my baby, I'd hug, kiss, and stroke a little back. This gave the young one security that let them know they were loved and cared for. That way, later on when I screwed up, they had the self esteem to handle it.

Later, I broke my back, probably from years of strain from constantly carrying babies, but I'd do the same thing all over again . . .  with regular visits to the chiropractor.

Another free tip: it is crucial for parents to be the adults in the family. I get so frustrated

Control your kids!

when I see moms or dads give in to whining or crying kids. For example, two years ago, a three or four year old ran onto a stage and disrupted a school talent show. The daddy chased that bad boy across the stage before catching him because the brat would not mind by coming when called. How appalling to be back stage and hear Dad repeatedly apologize to the kid because he couldn't be on stage! WTF? If he were my kid, he'd be in serious trouble for not listening. 

You're probably thinking I'd tear his butt up, but you're wrong. I never spanked or hit any of my kids. We used to press their noses against a wall for time out, take away toys or privileges, or worst of all, not let them brush their teeth! Actually, we only threatened to take away toothbrushing. That was scary enough to get the kids to do what we wanted without having to carry out the punishment.

These are only a few free tips, I have more, but posts should be short. So in conclusion, kiss those babies until their cheeks turn red, be the boss over your kids, and enjoying embarrassing your adult children. After twenty-one years of putting up with their crap, you'll have earned it.

#WW Wordless Wednesday Meets the Wiener Man

The royals were not the only visitors to Memphis this week.

Meet Sam the Wiener man!

And his amazing wiener mobile.

♭♬♩Oh. I wish I were an Oscar Mayer Wiener. ♪♫♩