Natural Hair Color

I had a friend betray me today.


Alright, betrayed is entirely the wrong word but I'm having a hard time coming up with the right, intelligent-sounding word for "went ape shit". And friend might be too strong of a word too. Let me restate:


I had an acquaintance go ape shit on me today.


Still reeling,
Corky

Genetic Mutation

Last night I watched The Time Traveler's Wife on HBO. If you haven't seen it, the time traveler has a genetic mutation that causes him to pop around in time.


The movie got me thinking. 


Maybe I have an unidentified genetic mutation that causes static problems with the machines I'm trying to use. I've never successfully sent a fax. I bought this video from iTunes but can't get it to play. And I'm thinking this genetic predisposition that causes mechanical malfunctions may be why I'm having such a hard time sending text messages. 


My son rolled his eyes when I proposed my theory. He said I need a different phone (but he didn't watch the whole movie).


Genetically challenged,

Corky

Wine Tasting

Lori and I met up at The Main last night for a wine tasting. Very nice way to spend an evening. Thanks Peter!


Look what Lori found on the store's rack ~

A wine called 'Conundrum'! 

At first it seemed as though the planets were aligning. Then I began to wonder why someone would name their wine 'Conundrum'? 

Wine-making process too puzzling?

Design for their label unfathomable?

Marketing process complicated beyond imagining?

We got so caught up in the debate and trying to get a decent picture with Lori's camera that we forgot to buy a bottle to try.

Appears the answer is in the third question.

Cheers,

Corky

txtng ^dt

That's 'texting update' with no vowels.


I really thought I'd be a superior texter by now. But I'm not. Not even close. Here's are the setbacks I'm experiencing...


> I'm having to spell everything out because, as it turns out, I'm a bit of a spelling snob (this isn't new but I am surprised to find another arena to get befuddled in)


> Careful attention to spelling and smiley faces doesn't do much good when you accidentally erase your whole message


> I usually don't recognize my own ringtone


Any help would be appreciated.


ttfn,
Corky

Women's Wear

Last night I ran into San Antonio, by myself, to do a little shopping. 

I scored a fabulous pair of black pants at Macy's, on sale.

On the way home, I stopped at Taco Cabana for some chicken flautas and a celebratory Corona. The place was crowded and I had to wait in line. At last I was greeted by a flustered cashier with perfectly applied bright-blue eyeliner and far too many earrings and bracelets to count. His voice was surprisingly deep when he asked, "What?" (guess I was scrutinizing his face a little too closely). I smiled, ordered and paid. He glared at me before pirouetting off to fill my order. 

It was then I realized he was wearing the exact trousers I had just bought!

Can you believe it? I'm still trying to decide if I should return my new fabulous pants to Macy's. I just don't want to be reminded every time I wear them that there's an obnoxious boy who looks better in Women's Wear than I do.


I hate shopping!
Corky

School Supplies

Am I right? 

Few things in this world offer more promise than a new box of crayons. Where else can you find a rainbow of colors, smelling of wax and cardboard? Tips pointy and ready decorate? 


Nowhere. 

But it's not just crayons. I love all school supplies almost equally and I don't mind the crowded aisles or the jumble of misplaced items to get at them. I do mind those who don't appreciate the sanctity of the school shopping ritual, but Walmart is opened to the public.

Go forth and create!

Corky

Oops

I'd like to apologize to any of you who read last night's post. No worries. I've deleted it. And I vow to never again consume my entire weekly wine quota (4 glasses as recommended by those clever Norwegian researchers that got their study mentioned on 'Good Morning America') in one night and then blog.


From the land of Advil,
Corky

Better Cognitive Skills

Finally ~ some important research! 


Drinking wine improves cognitive skills. 


Woo hoo! I saw the scroll on 'Good Morning America' and looked it up. The cognitive outlook for those who drink 4 glasses of wine a week, is better than for those who drink beer, liquor or less wine. Overlooking the glaring flaw in this study (there are more than 4 days in a week), I take this as very good news. 


Farewell Sudoku puzzles,
Corky

Proper Measurements

I don't remember signing up for the Vitacost.com e-blast but I receive it daily.


Today's headline is "Using Kitchen Spoons Ups Risk of Dosing Errors". Somebody paid researchers (I'm guessing the plastic industry) to show us why we should keep up with those little cups that come with bottles of cough medicine. They say we're not good at estimating measurements when using kitchen spoons. The bigger the spoon, the bigger the mistake. There was no mention in the article of how accurate estimates are when swigging straight from the bottle.


Cheers,
Corky


P.S. You can read the article by clicking here.

Mood Nail Polish

Nail polish that reflects your mood? Absolutely! At least that's what the bottle says. 


I bought neon green. It'll tell those around me whether I'm happy or earthy. I'm not sure what earthy involves but you'll know it because my polish will be less neon. I think. I'm wondering what took science so long to come up with this?


Of course, there are other mood combinations I bet men would rather see. Happy or premenstrual. Romantic or mad. Content or suspicious. I'm only guessing. The distinction between neon green and slightly less neon green is probably too subtle too. How about neon green and stoplight red?


Off to paint,
Corky

Frivolity

My job is frivolous. Extraordinarily frivolous. But well suited for this crazy point in my life. 


I am the director of a classic car museum located so far out in the country that visitors are more rare than our automobiles. The museum's founder is a sweet old man (and retired army captain) who collected and restored cars with the dream of one day displaying his hot rods for the world to see and envy. Twenty-four hours before the museum's grand opening, the captain fell off a ladder and broke his hip. 


He calls the museum from the nursing home every day at ten and two-thirty to see how the day's going. Today's phone calls were standard Monday fare ~ a review of last week's dismal (but typical) attendance numbers followed by a pep talk. Both calls. Same conversation. I don't mind the repetition. If I say something wrong the first time, I know how to redeem myself when the conversation is repeated.


Ciao for now,
Corky

txtng

Some days I can type 60 words a minute with no real mistakes. 


I'm finding the opposite is true on my phone. Texting one word an hour may not the best use of my time.


My texting friends have suggested short cuts like using emoticons and leaving the vowels out of words. The consonant only trick works sometimes but not always. Take the word Poo! No vowels and it becomes just the opposite.


<3,
Corky

New Year's Resolution

I know what you're thinking, "Duh! It's August."


It's not that kind of new year's resolution. No. This is not when I open my eyes on January 1st and resolve not to drink as much next New Year's Eve. It's my birthday resolution. The time of year when I actually give some thought to something I'd like to change or learn to do. This year I'm going to learn to text.


No longer will I receive text messages only to call the person back and say "yes" (or "no" depending on the question). No more will my calls to my teenage son roll to voicemail when I try to catch him on the phone. And, as a marvelous bonus, I can text in my votes to America's Got Talent without having to leave my couch.


So starting today, I resolve to take advantage of my unlimited texting feature.


LOL,
Corky

Conundrum

A conundrum is anything that puzzles. A mystery. An enigma. An idiot standing ahead of you in the line at the grocery store.

This blog will feature my thoughts on the people and things that I find puzzling. If you know me already, I'd like to go ahead and apologize now.

Cheers!

Corky

conundrum 

1596, Oxford University slang for "pedant," also "whim," etc.,
later (1790) "riddle, puzzle," also spelled quonundrum;  the
sort of ponderous pseudo-Latin word that was once the height
of humor in learned circles.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper 
Cite This Source

Dictionary.com is a good thing. I especially like the bits in the word's origin description about 'ponderous pseudo-Latin' and 'height of humor in learned circles'. The 'etc.' seems unnecessary, but doesn't it usually?