Hilarious without meaning to be

Yesterday, while stopped on the interstate, I tuned into a radio station to get some traffic info. I heard an ad that was so not-meaning-to-be-funny but was:

Give Mom the gift of safety for Mother's Day. Give her the firearm of her choice.

Because nothing says I love you, Mom like a handgun. It got me to thinking about how other businesses could use Mother's Day. Forget the obvious choices of bouquets, jewelry, or spa treatments . . .

Instead of flowers that wilt and die, give your mother something she can really appreciate: Valium. The old-fashioned remedy for ennui and angst, tranquilizing mother's since the 1950's.

This Mother's Day, give Mom a pest-free home. We'll kill your bugs inside and out for her special day.

Trying to think of something special for Mother's Day? Why not consider her own storage unit to fill with future useless crap she gets for Mother's Day.

This stuff just writes itself as XM Radio Guy says. Last year for Mother's Day, XM he gave away pregnancy tests, pearl necklaces, and I forget what else, on his radio show. Hahahaha

From my book

I'm writing a learning program that incorporates my teaching, brain-based learning experience, and other skills. I have a section giving permission to be average and get a "C." Some high achievers need that. Some low achievers need to know they don't have to be perfect in everything. Some parents need to know that, too.

When you can’t stand the subject or your teacher

Let’s face it. Sometimes you’re going to get a class that’s a dud. Maybe it’s the subject matter. Perhaps it’s the teacher. Or maybe it’s both. I won’t say which college, but the subject was economics. I am still baffled as to why I was required to take that class. And the teacher was horrible. He shuffled into class wearing leather bedroom slippers and polyester leisure suits from the 70’s, reeking of cigarette smoke. He also spat when he talked and I was stuck in the front row. Beyond the poor fashion sense, he was hostile to students and picked a few to yell at. You know those teachers who want you to succeed and do well? He was not one of them. I kept my mouth shut and did the bare minimum to get through. I have successfully failed to remember any content from that class. However, I am a firm believer that there are lessons everywhere, if you’re open to finding them. Often, it’s not the content of the class, but the presentation of it. In the case of this particular class, this is what I learned:

Sometimes you just have to survive.

That’s it. Put in the required time and effort, and when it’s done, it’s done. Kind of like eating a food you didn’t like when you were a kid. Hold your nose, chew & swallow.

Sometimes you do what you have to do, in order to do the things you want to do. ~Denzel Washington

Often times you'll have a great experience, or at the very least, a good story. Many things in life are pass/fail. Sometimes "good enough," really is.

Randomness & Quotes

A few random thingies:

Bird lover Jerry Stocking is tweeting on Twitter! Favourite tweet today:

If you only know a one way street to get to your destination you may not be able to get home.

XM Radio Guy sent me this today. "You can't make this stuff up. It just writes itself," he says.

Have you ever had to show up for jury duty? One guy made it clear he didn't want to serve. I guess he told them! Check it out.

As you know, I'm a huge fan of Cakewrecks. They did something for Trekkies (Serious Star Trek fans prefer to be called Trekkers. Whatev). What's equally as entertaining is the controversy that ensued over one of the cakes. Totally in the Get-a-Life category.

Last link, but I really loved this week's Grasshopper Note. Here's a quote:

Whatever is present in your life "should" be there. Why? Because it's a reality. Are you poor, struggling, lonely, miserable, sick, unlucky, frustrated, unfulfilled, etc? The minute you attempt to explain it away, the deeper you get into the shadows. The minute you accept it for the reality it is, you cease the echoing explanations and explore the options.

OK, off to explore my options. :-) H.

Politically incorrect

Don't they prefer to be called "Little People?"

Day of Rest

Here's the if-it's-raining rule for my nephew's soccer game: standing water and thunder 'n' lightening will get you canceled. Otherwise, suck it up. You won't melt. After the game, we went to this really cool playground. Had a great time climbing the rock wall and sliding down the spiral slide. We were there for over an hour and I was dead-tired! Great workout!

I found my first run of 4-leaf clovers for the season: 4 at the soccer match. And one more at Pioneer Sister's just before I left. Just for fun. It's raining and wet and a great day for staying in and reading. Happy Day of Rest! :-) H.

Out the door with a quote

Am spending the day with Pioneer Sister & kids. Soccer games and whatnot. Yesterday I cracka-lacked with a learning program I'm designing. I was tippy-tapping away on the computer and had 3 pages knocked out. The next time I looked, I was at 7. I love those kind of creative days. Anyway, back tomorrow.

What answer to the meaning of existence should one require beyond the right to exercise one's gifts?
~W.H. Auden

Quote of the Day

I read this from Seth's blog and thought how true. Ideas for me are the easy part. It's executing the LIST that I've set up for myself that is the challenge: scripts for CD's, 3 books, re-writing both websites . . . time to get cracka-lackin'! :-)

On to a creativity challenge: Doug O'Brien wrote such a thought-provoking comment to yesterday's post that I'm saving a response for another post.

I wonder if this is what is meant when people say we create our own reality. Is it that we notice what we want to notice and disregard the rest, and then act as if our perception is reality?

Would anyone else like to respond as well? Calling all philosophers and writers. We can post with links to everyone's blogs. It will be like Ornament Thursday without the crafts. We'll post next Friday . . . for . . . wait for it . . . yes! Philosophical Fridays. Or just Friday. Next Friday, May 8th. Email me or leave a comment to this post and let me know you're in.