Personal blog entries now here. Blogger Boobie-Thon moved here.
Want a new view? You're not stuck with this design -- skin the site!




Silence.
 And prayers. And now that it's apparent all are lost, tears...

(The reason I followed this particular mission even more closely than usual.)

UPDATE: Out of respect to the astronauts and families, my blog will be silent the remainder of the weekend. If you're looking for frequent news updates and possible scientific explanations, please visit samizdata.net.
posted at 11:04 AM | link--it | mail it | (41) shout it






Play it safe
 Just a quick reminder for those of you using Movable Type...

I know of two blogs that had their databases corrupted this week. It can, and just might happen to you. Be on the safe side. If you're sitting at home bored this weekend, take the time to make backups of each of your blog templates if you haven't already. (Thanks for the link, Donna!) I have a copy of every main index and archive template for my own blog saved in individual text files. Next, go to your "import/export" tab in the left menu and do an export of your blog. The directions are at the very bottom of the page. This will help you save a file of your blog entries, and all of its comments, through the time of export. Instead of losing a lot, you'll only lose a little. Regular exports are VERY important. If you have to install a new copy of MT from scratch after a database crash, you can run the export file you've just made through the import feature, and regain all of your past contents and comments immediately.

Hopefully you'll never have to deal with any of this but it's much easier to prevent than cure!
posted at 06:39 PM | link--it | mail it | (15) shout it



Women's (Mad) Lib
 [More than a woman to me]
posted at 04:50 PM | link--it | mail it | (4) shout it



Craven, Dick
 Y'know all those funny names in the phone book? Well here they are together on one site. I seriously can't believe there's a Hugh G. Rection somewhere out there. What were his parents thinking?
posted at 08:05 AM | link--it | mail it | (9) shout it



We're too busy singin' to put anybody down
 My husband thinks I have officially lost it. I'm getting "the look". You see, Michele bought me Sea Monkeys for my birthday. And more babies just hatched. So I bought my new monkeys toys and treats overnight and just told him about it.

What? Quit looking at me like that, too. I spoil all my pets! Happy Friday everyone!
posted at 07:36 AM | link--it | mail it | (7) shout it



Juicin' the =w=eez
 [from The Onion]
posted at 12:06 AM | link--it | mail it | (12) shout it






Q T Pie
 These were linked in my comments, and I thought they were cute enough, they warranted being passed along on the main page -- girl eats boy Valentine's Day cards.
posted at 10:00 PM | link--it | mail it | (2) shout it



This town needs an enema
 I've run into quite a few people -- and blogs -- that could use one of these today. Their shit is so backed up, their eyeballs are floating. So feel free to take one down, pass it around. Call it the gift that keeps on giving, and giving, and giving...


[take one down pass it around]

posted at 08:07 PM | link--it | mail it | (12) shout it



The perils of being a geek
 Kristine linked to the ThinkGeek Valentine's collection -- and this cute shirt. I really want this tank top, too, but I'm very wary of ordering from them again. I've placed four orders with them in the past six months. This is how they've went.

  1. Birthday gift order never arrived at its final destination. (That happens.) Two months later, they finally made right and reshipped the item.
  2. Ordered a t-shirt for myself, and a gift for someone else. Had it all shipped to my house first this time. Navy t-shirt arrived with bleach-spots on it. Didn't bother trying to replace it so quickly after the last order being such a pain. Gift items in the shipment were ok.
  3. Sent a gift order to Arizona for Christmas, but no communication was included with the items to say who they were from. They had to play a guessing game in their blog. Nothing major, but a pain nonetheless.
  4. Ordered another gift item for Todd at Christmas. Placed the order a full three weeks before Christmas, mind you. Less than a week before Christmas, after e-mailing them at least every other day -- with no response -- wondering why my order was still stuck in the "processing" stage, I was sent a customer service reply that the order had been cancelled due to being stuck in the processing stage for so long. No explanation other than that. The note apologized for the inconvenience and noted I was welcome to place the order once again. When I wrote to complain, and noted it was now less than a week before Christmas, I was out a gift, and there was no possible way they could ship it on time without offering me free-overnight for my trouble -- I never received another reply.
Am I the only one who's had trouble with ThinkGeek? I love their merchandise. But three out of four orders had what I consider to be major problems -- and the fourth had a minor problem. And trying to contact their customer service by e-mail or phone has proven more difficult than contacting Amazon's. That's saying a lot. It appears ThinkGeek isn't the only company giving geeks trouble lately, though...


UPDATE: Yet another screwed up order in April 2003...
posted at 06:49 PM | link--it | mail it | (10) shout it



We certainly wanna thank you for coming by - you know the way out, right?
 In times of deep trouble, I always find myself turning to the words and wisdom of the great orator Eric Theodore Cartman:


[Eric T Cartman]

"I believe I said, 'get the fudge out!' Which means, kiss mah fudgin' ass, go fudge yourself, fudge ya, get the fudge out..."
posted at 06:13 PM | link--it | mail it | (7) shout it



You're about as easy as a nuclear war
 I know you're watching me every minute of the day, yeah
I've seen the signs and the looks and the pictures
That give your game away, yeah
There's a dream that strings the road
A broken glass for us to hold
And I cut so far before I had to say

Please please tell me now
Is there something I should know?
Is there something I should say
That'll make you come my way?
Do you feel the same, 'cause you don't let it show....


I've received a small handful of e-mails in the past few weeks to the tune of a Peter Parker lecture, "With great power comes great responsibility." This is my gift, my curse. I don't remember receiving a memo when I started blogging stating that it was my duty to protect those reading along with me. The one and only person I feel I have to protect at all costs when I write is the man I live with and love every day of my life-- my husband. I don't have a standard of 'responsible journalism' to measure up to. I am not your reliable media outlet.

Is there really a certain point when your counter peaks, that suddenly you have to blog in order to keep all of your readers "safe", rather than keeping yourself sane? Why was I allowed to blog entries as my true self in order to put me here -- even if I didn't ask to be there -- yet now that I am "here" (for what it's worth), suddenly I have to change my core-self for other's protection?

Doesn't that smack of "you've gotta protect the children" and assume my readers don't have a mind of their own in order to agree -- or disagree as it were -- with me? Who appointed you as my keeper and mentor anyway?

And why is it not ok for me to call someone out after they've devoted an entire blog entry about being disappointed in my current writing -- but it is ok for you to send me an 1,165-word e-mail (yes, I counted them in Word) doing the very same thing to me? Is that little note ok because you didn't have the balls to put it up in a public place, and sent it on in private instead? "It's just petty and small to invite response, and then go ballistic and shrewish when that response isn't exactly what you want to hear." That works both ways you know. Did you ever think of applying it to this individual when they made their blog entry about me to begin with? Didn't think so. No, it was easier to attack me instead. Everyone else has been. Why should you be left out on all the fun?

Just as I don't hold celebrities to any "role model" standard simply because they are a celebrity, I don't think it's fair for anyone to hold me to a higher blogging standard simply because I have a few links floating around out there. At the core of it all, we are all human. And humans can -- and will -- make mistakes. And if I'm stupid enough to make my mistakes in front of 1,500 people each day, more power to me. I haven't tried to hide from them yet.

I registered this domain for a reason. I have been a ranter, antagonist and tantrum-thrower all my life. I was the screaming kid with their arms and legs wrapped around the gumball machine in the bank because my Popeye didn't have a dime on him. I was the cheerleader in junior high that egged on the opposing team for wearing baby blue and missing every tackle they tried. I was the editorialist in high school daring you to think about my opinion. And I was the political science and history student in college questioning the present and future, while over-analyzing the past.

I'm me. I'm where I am right now because of it. To think I should somehow "change" or suddenly be "more responsible" after all this time is ludicrous to me. People know I'm devoted to those I love and my friends above everything else -- but they also know that life isn't all sunshine and roses, not everyone out there likes me, and I don't try to paint it that way. So let's take a poll...

Do you feel bloggers have a responsibility to protect those reading along from themselves?


For the record, I will not change the way I've written for almost 18 months now simply because you don't like where my stats counter happens to be at the moment. So I suggest you go find a new read if you have a problem with it. Ya' got that? Good.
posted at 05:03 PM | link--it | mail it | (16) shout it



Worldwide Pants
 Since my husband refuses to blog right now, I have to do it for him...


25 Lines From Star Wars that can be improved if you substitute the word "Pants":

  1. A tremor in the pants. The last time I felt this was in the presence of my old master.
  2. You are unwise to lower your pants.
  3. We've got to be able to get some reading on those pants, up or down.
  4. She must have hidden the plans in her pants. Send a detachment down to retrieve them. See to it personally Commander.
  5. These pants may not look like much, kid, but they've got it where it counts.
  6. I find your lack of pants disturbing.
  7. These pants contain the ultimate power in the Universe. I suggest we use it.
  8. Han will have those pants down. We've got to give him more time!
  9. General Veers, prepare your pants for a surface attack.
  10. I used to bulls-eye womp-rats in my pants back home.
  11. TK-421. . . Why aren't you in your pants?
  12. Lock the door. And hope they don't have pants.
  13. Governor Tarkin. I recognized your foul pants when I was brought on board.
  14. You look strong enough to pull the pants off of a Gundark.
  15. Luke. . . Help me take...these pants off.
  16. Great, Chewie, great. Always thinking with your pants.
  17. That blast came from those pants. That thing's operational!
  18. Don't worry. Chewie and I have gotten into a lot of pants more heavily guarded than this.
  19. Maybe you'd like it back in your pants, your highness.
  20. Your pants betray you. Your feelings for them are strong. Especially for your sister!
  21. Jabba doesn't have time for smugglers who drop their pants at the first sign of an Imperial Cruiser.
  22. Yeah, well short pants is better than no pants at all, Chewie.
  23. Attention. This is Lando Calrissean. The Empire has taken control of my pants, I advise everyone to leave before more troops arrive.
  24. I cannot teach him. The boy has no pants.
  25. You came in those pants? You're braver than I thought.
Khakis swing!
posted at 03:09 PM | link--it | mail it | (17) shout it



Eager to kill any who says that my hook isn't cute...
 Proof that not everything out of Tampa is all good...just for the record.

Just keep an open mind, and then suddenly you'll find Never-neverland.
posted at 04:31 AM | link--it | mail it | (20) shout it



Check out, check check...out my melody
 You got a problem with all the Bucs talk lately? Well I invite you to hit that back button and keep on surfin' bud. Because if you think this is bad, baby you ain't seen nothing yet when OU brings home another one of these!

Seriously though, I seem to have lost sight of the fact as to when my online journal's content had to be first-approved by YOU. Can you please enlighten me when this little change in ownership took place? Because I was under the impression that if I wanted to spend every single entry for the next six weeks blogging about my left pinky toe, well guess what? You don't have to keep on reading me. Shocking concept, I know. Those who want to...will. Those who don't...will find about 500,000 other blogs out there to keep them entertained. I know that I don't float everyone's boat, and I'm not ashamed to admit you never really have mine either. I happen to despise French. I think using it mixed with English merely for the sake of typing it is snotty and pretentious. But that's quite another "issue" of mine altogether...and you never saw me making blog entries calling you out for it when you'd ping me in the past.

I've always said that the day I stop blogging for me is the day I hang up my mouse -- and I don't intend to change that any time soon. Football is a very real part of my life. Just as politics are a very real part of Michele's. No one is holding a gun to your head forcing you to read all of our content. Skim if you just can't stomach it. Really, it's not that hard.

You do not dictate my mood. You do not dictate my thoughts. You do not even dictate my content, or what I have for dinner tomorrow night. And I double-dog dare you to come into my home, grab my paper journal, and start editing it because you don't like my topic choices and perspective on things. Because in case you might have missed it 'til now, this is my online journal. I write for me. I don't write to entertain the masses. And I certainly don't change my content because you've grown sick of hearing about Tampa Bay. If anything, it makes me even more determined to mention my fine community at every available turn. Ever notice that URL up there in the address bar by chance? Which reminds me...Gasparilla is right around the corner. Funny how that works. I'm'a do things my way. It's my way...or the highway... *plonk*

UPDATE: I kid you not, as I hit the publish button, Prodigy's "Smack My Bitch Up" came on my station. The irony was not lost on me.
posted at 03:42 AM | link--it | mail it | (35) shout it



This is a request, Mr. Radio Man
 Just a quick heads-up for those who have tried, or are thinking about trying, to set up their own Launchcast station. They are now offering "Launchcast Plus" for $3.99/mo with no commercial interruptions. You can also create station playlists based on your mood, and access special pay-only stations with Launchcast Plus. I fully believe in paying for, donating to and supporting programs that make your life a bit easier -- and this is definitely one I was quick to sign up for! I have my station going just about every second I'm here in this chair. (If you'd like to listen to my station, you can do so here.)
posted at 01:53 AM | link--it | mail it | (4) shout it



You oughtta know
 I used the Alanis Morissette Lyric Generator to compose a little song for Statia and Trish.


I think...

I think Trekkies are really a huge problem
I think sammiches are too much on my mind
I think ass-kissers have got a lot to do with why the world sucks
But what can you do?

Like a green rain, beating down on me
Like a Quinton Tarantino line, which won't let go of my brain
Like Dick's ass, it is in my head

Blame it on Wil Wheaton
Blame it on Wil Wheaton
Blame it on Wil Wheaton

I think The Bloggies are gonna drive us all crazy
And monkeys make me feel like a child
I think typewriters will eventually be the downfall of civilization
But what can you do?
I said what can you do?

Like a green rain, beating down on me
Like a Quinton Tarantino line, which won't let go of my brain
Like Dick's ass, it is in my head

Blame it on Wil Wheaton
Blame it on Wil Wheaton
Blame it on Wil Wheaton

Like a green rain, beating down on me
Like Dick's smile, cruel and cold
Like Dick's ass, it is in my head

Blame it on Wil Wheaton
Blame it on Wil Wheaton
Blame it on Wil Wheaton

-credit: brunching.com
posted at 01:30 AM | link--it | mail it | (4) shout it






Up, up in the atmosphere
 Here's one that's shocked us... If you've seen my photos from Monday night, you might remember this blurry image of the Tampa SWAT team repelling from a police helicopter into Raymond James stadium. Now the FAA is investigating it as an "unsafe operation". The helicopter pilot for the local NBC affiliate went on record earlier this evening saying he thought the stunt was dangerous and uncalled for (I guess that's why the crowd went wild), and media outlets are now being asked to turn over their footage of the event to federal investigators. Ironic that one of the biggest controversies over our city's Super Bowl celebrations is being blamed on the police, and not on local residents!
posted at 11:22 PM | link--it | mail it | (5) shout it



We can't rewind, we've gone too far
 For two people who have always been adamantly against reality shows, we've caught ourselves flipping back and forth between tonight's "American Idol" and "Bachelorette" 90-minute specials. Anyone have a good medication they can recommend?

And are we the only ones who thought the twins on "American Idol" were more like the Fabulous Sweeney Sisters?
posted at 08:52 PM | link--it | mail it | (15) shout it



I.....love a parade!
 Jen and I tag-teamed of sorts for the Bucs Super Bowl celebrations this week -- here are her most-excellent pics of yesterday's Super Bowl Parade in Tampa.
posted at 03:08 PM | link--it | mail it | (10) shout it



If you're ever in a jam, here I am
 You know how they say blood is thicker than water? Well we're just getting in, and tonight we learned that friendship is thicker than wet cement -- and bonds even stronger. We love you.
posted at 03:26 AM | link--it | mail it | (16) shout it






I might be a winner
 FRAGILÉ -- it must be Italian! It seems I've had a few 'major awards' bestowed upon me while my back was turned...


[I got the finger]
"Best use of boobs for a cause"
"Stalks no-name bloggers with 5 hits a day or less"




[I am nifty!]
"Robyn, for sifting all that is decent and good from FARK, your multiple designs, and the 2002 Boobie-Thon, I'd like to present you with the Thudfactor 'I'm Nifty' Award!"




[I feel loved]
"Blog That Isn't In My Blogroll"




Thanks everyone! I feel all warm and fuzzy inside now -- kinda like when climbing the rope in gym class.
posted at 05:56 PM | link--it | mail it | (8) shout it



My belongs to Solonor!
 Sorry guys, but Solonor buys me jewelry, so he's my BLOGWHORE(2). Yes, I can be bought.
posted at 03:41 PM | link--it | mail it | (7) shout it



ON-J Anonymous
 This one is for Statia...but was there really any doubt? Todd will just have to suffer!


[Gonna be a strange twist of fate]

posted at 02:49 PM | link--it | mail it | (13) shout it



No time for losers...
 [Yo ho ho - a pirates life for me!] Todd was able to leave work early on Monday afternoon, so we headed towards Raymond James Stadium about 4 p.m. They didn't open the gates 'til almost 7 p.m., but that didn't matter. It was a Super Bowl sized party outside (over 10,000 strong before 5 p.m.)! Once inside, we ended up with excellent seats on the west side of the stadium. We were between the 30 and 40-yardlines, only about 9 rows up. It was first-come, first-seated. There were so many people that they even had to open the upper decks, and the one across from us completely filled-- at least 65,000 people in attendance.

We were entertained with great Super Bowl moments on the jumbotrons, and also the ten best Super Bowl commercials. They fired the canons for each touchdown scored on the replay. We also got live updates on the team plane's location, which did a fly-by right over the stadium before it landed. The Tampa PD SWAT team had officers repel from a helicopter right onto the field. And the cheerleaders arrived first to entertain the crowd. Once the team landed at TIA, Warren Sapp called the stadium from his cell phone and said they could hear us at the airport from the team buses! Things were very, very loud. And finally...the Super Bowl champs showed up. The players, coaches and owners all took a few seconds at the podium -- and then a few of the players and the Glazers dashed around the field with the Lombardi trophy a few times. Those on the front row got to touch it! Then just like that, it was over. A week I know I'll never forget as long as I live.

I have four pages of photos from Monday afternoon and evening up in my Super Bowl Gallery. Some are a bit blury and I do apologize. It's a bit hard to shoot when 65,000 people are rockin' the joint. I'll try to get captions up tomorrow, but for now just the photos will have to do. I'm freakin' exhausted and sick as a dog, I can't feel my fingers, and I still have to work tonight. Don't get me wrong though... I am NOT complaining.

We're not going to the parade tomorrow (I'm not up to it and Todd has to work), so if anyone goes and takes pics -- pass them on and I'll link them here. One last time...CONGRATS BUCS! We love you!
posted at 02:24 AM | link--it | mail it | (10) shout it






Dancin' in the streets
 It's amazing how different towns handle sporting milestones. I guess everyone expects the Oakland fans to riot -- win or lose. By contrast, other than a trash can fire and auto-pedestrian accident last weekend, for the most part things were very tame here in Tampa Bay when we clinched the NFC title. Even at a last-minute gathering of 25,000+ fans. The "riot police" at that event consisted of four men on horseback. From all local media accounts, Tampa Bay was very orderly in their celebrations tonight as well. Dale Mabry was bumper-to-bumper and Ybor was packed, but arrests were at a minimum. When OU won their national title in 2000-01, you didn't see our fans burning cars in the streets of Norman either.

I guess I've really never understood that mindset. I've never been a fan of a team where rioting was considered the "norm" (even if done by a fringe-group and looked down upon by other fans), or even something that was expected and to be braced for. Thank goodness. Your team loses? Well life goes on, and there's always next season. And if it wins -- well let's just say we all tossed back more than a few tonight in this town. But the real celebration will be done in the right way, at the right place, tomorrow night. CONGRATS BUCS!


UPDATE: Well here you go -- this is how we celebrate in Tampa. TBO.com mentions this:

"Meanwhile, in Ybor City revelers began pouring into the popular nightclub district.....At least one woman was arrested for baring her breasts, but most were described as happy fans."

And somewhat related, Tampa Bay Online also has a Super Bowl Weblog.
posted at 02:50 AM | link--it | mail it | (20) shout it



I have a little salt handy - where's an open wound?
 Official 2002-03 ATPTB Bucs Football Quote of the Season: "Lets be realistic - come talk to me when the Lucks actually play and beat a team with a winning record." - iggles

My team just won Super Bowl XXXVII -- how about you, and every other smack-talker I've endured this past season, come back and talk to me now, hmmmm? Nah, I didn't forget my promise. Real blondes never do. Sometimes girls just know more about football than you.
posted at 12:51 AM | link--it | mail it | (17) shout it






San...Diego...Super Bowl'ers!
 [We freaking did it!!!]

Thanks so much to everyone for all the well wishes! It makes up ten-fold for all the smack we've had to take over the years in our blogs, the press, and the world in general for being Bucs fans. What a year! Our Sooners finish in the top 5 after an amazing Rose Bowl performance, and now our Bucs are World Champions. Both of our teams, college and pro, have two of the best coaches in the game. I just can't believe it's over...7 months of golf...ugh.

This isn't the first time "my team" has won the Super Bowl. I was a Cowboys fan all of my life, until Barry Switzer's firing in the late 90s. I was raised in silver and blue and had a Cowboy Cheerleader's uniform before I could barely walk. But I can definitely say this is the sweetest. We live in, and are a part of, this community. We've been here through the early lean (orange) years as Sapp and Brooks were starting out, and the mean years where we got close but no cigar. So this is more sweet than anything I could have possibly dreamed of... Second only to our being at the Orange Bowl when the Sooners won the National Championship in 2000.

Again, thanks to everyone for the congrats and well wishes! What a day! The official celebration begins at Raymond James Stadium tomorrow evening. For those in Tampa Bay, the stadium parking opens at 6:00 p.m. with the team expected to arrive about 9 p.m. Hope to see ya'll there!
posted at 11:00 PM | link--it | mail it | (20) shout it



Defense. Wins. Championships!
 Who's our favorite player? Mr. Derrick Brooks! More to come soon. Now if you'll excuse us, we have some bubbly to pop open... WE'RE SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONS, BABY!
posted at 10:14 PM | link--it | mail it | (23) shout it



Go and part the sea, yeah, in Malibu
 [this game is killing me]
Wonder how much more it would take 'til I can't feel my legs? I'm seriously about to hyperventilate here.

P.S. So far Todd has cracked our vertical blinds and is now bleeding from the hand.
posted at 07:42 PM | link--it | mail it | (31) shout it



A crummy commercial?
 Let the Super Bowl ad watch begin! What are your favorites? Which ones do you want to implode Madison Avenue for?

First one on my list -- the Yahoo! "Rainbow Connection" one. Bad, bad, baaaaaaaad. And I love that song.
posted at 06:01 PM | link--it | mail it | (60) shout it



Another tension breaker - had to be done

[Click to view the song lyrics]

Right-click the image (or this link) to save...

Yeah, it's been overplayed during the playoffs. But it's a damn good song! GO BUCS!
posted at 05:06 PM | link--it | mail it | (10) shout it



It's not easy facing up when your whole world is black
 A few design-wraps this past week...with more to come in the next few days...

  1. Books and Other Stuff and jeffrutherford.com
  2. Historic Federal Hill Main Street (logo by Karen Coughlin)
  3. The Literature Program at Richard Stockton College
Whew! At this rate, I'm gonna be blind by Christmas...but I'm not complaining!
posted at 04:20 PM | link--it | mail it | (2) shout it



Are you ready for some football?
 It's Super Bowl Sunday -- and my love of the Bucs even made it on this week's Call For Help! Let's get it on... Good luck, Chey! And special thanks go out to callforhelpcentral.com for the video clip! (Just for the record, Tampa Bay won that CFH video game 27-10.)
posted at 01:36 AM | link--it | mail it | (20) shout it



It'll be...just like starting over
 One of the new Chili Peppers songs came on the radio tonight when we were driving to Clearwater. Although I would rate it about 3x better than most of the new crap out these days, I'm sorry, but it's a far cry from being the Chili Peppers I came of age with. We started making a mental list of bands that should've hung it up a long, long time ago. Of course The Stones were the first to top that list. But they're from the obvious Geritol era. We quickly moved on to bands we grew up on -- our favorites that shouldn't have been allowed to stay together post-1996 (a year after we'd left college), some even earlier. Here's a few to get the ball rolling:

1. Chili Peppers, obviously
2. The Cure
3. R.E.M.
4. Depeche Mode
5. Duran Duran, although Electric Barbarella wasn't half-bad

When aging rock stars go sad... Sometimes unfortunately, an early death is better than the alternative. Who would you add to the list?
posted at 12:26 AM | link--it | mail it | (37) shout it