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June 30, 2005
Real People, Real Stunts--Fear Factor!
One of my roommates in college will admit that she got me interested in watching Fear Factor. Not addicted to it, mind you, but interested. Even now, I sometimes watch it if there is nothing else on Monday night. (I know, I live a sad existence...) Basically, I just watch the second stunt, the one where they do the mental challenge instead of the physical. I like watching people eat really disgusting things, especially if they gag and make retching noises while they do it.
Well, I had my own reality experience last night. I was sitting in the dark, watching Golden Girls on late-night TV. I was also having the midnight munchies, so I was eating some tasty trail mix with peanuts, almonds, M&Ms, and raisins.
In the bluish glow of my TV during commercials, I noticed I had dropped an almond on the floor. Since almonds are a rare commodity in this particular brand of trail mix, I picked it up from the floor (I live by myself, so eating off the floor isn't quite as questionable) and popped it in my mouth.
Crunch. Wiggle. Squirt. Gag. Spit. Curse.
What I thought was an almond was actually a bug. It was dark enough and I was nauseated enough that I didn't look carefully enough to see what kind after I had spit the parts into my hand.
Gross.
If Fear Factor is interested in me, I'm available...
(Not quite what I ate, I don't think...but it was too dark to tell.)
Posted by Anna at 03:41 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
June PhotoQuest
Once again, I’m in right under the buzzer for this month’s PhotoQuest. (I guess it’s a good thing I don’t live in Europe, or I’d already be out of time, huh?)
For those of you who don’t know, I’m moving. I now live in the basement of an older house owned by an older couple. Though the apartment and the furnishings are nice, they’re, well, old.
In honor of my new pad, I’m using only things found in/around my apartment for this PhotoQuest. I didn’t go further than 10 feet from my door to take any of these shots. And with the exception of my shoes, everything in the photos belongs to the older people who own the apartment.
So, without any further delay, a glimpse into my new home via the June PhotoQuest:
The first task was to photograph something I’ve collected. I always interpreted “collected” as a self-chosen job; it doesn’t seem logical to collect things that don’t bear any personal importance. In my new home, though, I was greeted with a rather unlikely collection: fondue pots. Here are two of the fondue/whatever pans; there are two more that I couldn’t fit into the picture. Anyone up for fondue?
The second task was a flag. There are perfectly good flags in the neighborhood, and I even own a small paper version of the flags of each country I’ve visited in recent years. But to be a little different (and to give you, as I’ve promised, a glimpse into my new surroundings), here is a flag from a book left on my coffee table. (By the way, the book is The Grand Ole Opry by Robert K. Krishef, 1978)
Third task is something I’ve grown. Well, I’ve grown more tolerant of my surroundings since moving into my new place. What with all the knick-knacks and odd furnishings (for instance, there were originally 9 end tables randomly placed around the living room when I moved in!), I’ve grown more patient and tolerant. Does that count? If it does, here’s something I’ve been forced to grow more tolerant of simply because I don’t know where else to put them: old records. The record on the end there is Guy Lombardo, in case you were curious.
The fourth task was to photograph where you put your shoes. Unlike Flip, I don’t have any certain place where I put my shoes when I’m not wearing them. And since I’m still moving out of my old place, I haven’t yet established a place to put them. So for now, my sneakers go under the coffee table…
Finally, a tree stump. Luckily, there was one in my new backyard. There aren’t a whole lot of tree stumps in the city…
Posted by Anna at 03:37 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
June 16, 2005
Odd Holiday--Hollerin' Day
As my pal Joe so kindly reminded me, I've been neglecting my duties to keep my readers informed of all the weird holidays out there.
Joe brought it to my attention that today is National Hollerin' Contest Day.
Now, a hollerin' contest might seem a little pointless. But let me tell you, some of the mothers of the kids I had in my class would start their hollerin' in the car when they picked up their kids and I could hear them in the building. Hollering is quite an art (everyone can do it, but it takes practice to do it righ!), and now there is an official Hollering Contest.
Thanks, Joe, for letting me know about this weird holiday!
I tried to find a hillbilly hollering (I'm from the Ozarks so I can say that without being prejudiced), but this is all I could do on short notice...
Posted by Anna at 07:14 PM | TrackBack
June 15, 2005
You May Call Me Doctor...
I've been slacking off in the blogging realm again. I've started a particular post several times but just have never finished it.
Anyway, this isn't the post I meant to write, but it is something:
I watched 60 Minutes tonight. They featured so-called "Diploma Mills," online schools that generate a degree for you within a few weeks of sending them money. That got me curious, so I surfed around the Internet for a while. I did locate several schools that offered me a PhD, as soon as I send them my check and complete their 2000 word "thesis." See, with all my "experience" and "education," I'm qualified for a PhD.
I was already having a good time when I stumbled across this site. Forget sending money to those online "schools" when I can just print one here!** It's more cost-effective than even those online schools! And just so you know, I have already prepared my degree from Flatulence University in Pungent, Pennsylvania. I am officially a Doctor of Philosophy in the field of Oceanography. Oh, and I also earned a minor in gynecology.
Excuse me while I locate my parchment paper.
**This site is a humor site. Bear that in mind, OK?
Posted by Anna at 07:34 PM | TrackBack
June 07, 2005
Volunteering to Pay...or Paying to Volunteer
I loaned my brain to the campus Psychology Department today for an experiment in short-term memory.
The good news: I made $12 for about half an hour of (easy) work.
The bad news: I got an $18 parking ticket.
Posted by Anna at 10:02 AM | Comments (7) | TrackBack
June 04, 2005
To Clear Up Confusion...
Just to clear up any possible misunderstanding about the steps involved in switching lanes on the interstate, please follow these techniques in the order given:
1. Turn on blinker.
THEN
2. Switch lanes.
I understand that you may be tempted to try these steps in reverse order. Please be advised from a fellow driver, though, that changing lanes and then blinkering is not nearly as effective.
In the span of 10 minutes, I saw 6 people switch lanes and then blinker. Makes no sense to me...
Posted by Anna at 10:03 AM | Comments (6) | TrackBack
June 03, 2005
Odd Holiday--Donut Day
Today is Donut Day. It's a real holiday and actually has roots going back to before World War II. Thanks, Christopher, for telling me about this one.
To celebrate, Krispy Kreme is giving away a free donut to every customer! Too bad I don't know where the nearest Krispy Kreme is from me.
Picture found here.
Posted by Anna at 04:51 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
For No Reason...
No reason for this...just nothing too interesting to post:
Picture "borrowed" from Wimp.com
Posted by Anna at 10:17 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
June 02, 2005
Computer Geeks: Help Me!
Calling all computer nerds: I need your help!
I have a Dell laptop. It works fine except for one problem: lately, after I wake it up from being on standby, the screen goes black for a few seconds and then comes on again...with everything upside down!
Any thoughts? I'd be glad to email you for more specific thoughts if you leave a comment...
Posted by Anna at 04:07 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
June 01, 2005
Rent Rant
I’ve been apartment hunting. It’s not that I really want to move, but I’m always open to moving if I can find someplace cheaper.
In my hunting, I’ve learned a few things about advertisement jargon:
“Spacious”=tiny. I think they justify using that word by claiming the space would actually be spacious in the eyes of a pet or baby. Unfortunately, “spacious” is a relative term and translates as miniscule square footage.
“Affordable”=expensive. To me, the only apartments I find that are “affordable” have living rooms too “spacious” for a beanbag chair and are located in between a strip club and a liquor store. Enviable location for some, I suppose, but not for me.
“New carpeting and tile”=this may very well be true. It does make me question, however, why the landlords felt it necessary to completely update the inside. I suspect it is because the previous occupant trashed the apartment beyond repair, like perhaps using the corner as a toilet because they are too lazy to walk the 10 feet to the bathroom. (That comes from a fellow student who claimed that happened in her apartment before she moved in.)
“Family friendly”=kids everywhere. Not a quiet spot in the entire complex. The pool is always packed, there is a general noisyness between 7-9 p.m. as parents force the little ones to bed, and there is the frequent squeal of an unhappy child in the hallway.
“Pet friendly”=you have to watch your step. Dog poop everywhere because owners don’t clean up after their furry companions.
“Elegant living”=You can’t afford it anyway, so there’s no point in looking.
Posted by Anna at 11:28 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack