Karaoke

Did your Thanksgiving include karaoking in a Chinese restaurant like mine did?

Didn't think so.

(Not) Ray Tong

Stimulating Dinner Conversation #2

This past weekend, I sat down to dinner with a group of friends.  This group was made up of many of the same people who chimed in on the "Which dinosaur would you rather eat?" debate of 2010 and the topic was once again visited.  At some point Beet mentioned getting in a time machine and going back in time to actually get a dinosaur and decide the point once and for all, but I'm not sure how we got to that scenario.  Instead, most of the conversation was hijacked by the Kool-Aid Man.

Kool-Aid Man

It seemed pretty universal that we would be fairly angry if the Kool-Aid Man came busting through our walls.  I don't think most insurance covers that.  Who's going to pay for that damage?  Getting some Kool-Aid is definitely not worth that headache, especially when we could have just gone to the store to get the drink, or the Kool-Aid Man could have come in through the door.  But could he have?  And here's where the conversation took an interesting turn.

The Kool-Aid Man can't use the door.  He's way too big.  We had a lawyer in our midst, so we queried about whether venues were in violation of the American's With Disabilities Act.  Her take was that he often busts through the walls at private residences, which aren't covered under the ADA.  But he could have a case at any sort of public place.  We still don't think it gives him the right to vandalize property in such a flagrant fashion, but it did make us pause and think about how tough life must be for him and to try to put ourselves in his jug before we judge again.

This could be an interesting topic to discuss with your loved ones this Thanksgiving.  What a great time to teach the kids about acceptance.  I look forward to hearing your take on the topic, and if you have any interesting conversations around the old bird tomorrow, come on back and let us know.  From everyone here at Scuttlebuttering, have a great Thanksgiving, folks!

 

Happy Turkey Day!

Christmas Gifts

So, my mother's been bugging me for a few weeks now about giving her my Christmas list.  The problem is, I have no idea what to ask for from my parents.  If I need something, I'll usually just buy it, so there's nothing I can't really live without.  And my parents are very generous to me year-round, and I just feel bad asking for more from them.  I'm great at giving advice for gifts for other people, and gave them wonderful ideas for what to get Bert.  But compared to his great presents, the only thing I have asked for so far is a shoe rack.  My mom said that that's a little sad and she needs more suggestions.

So help me out, kids.  What did you ask for from your parents?  Or do you have any suggestions of things that I don't even know I need, but will soon wonder how I lived without?

My sad Christmas gift 

Elevator Etiquette #1

lulu.com

So someday, I'm going to teach a class on elevator etiquette.  It will be part of a series that might go on to discuss escalators, or even moving walkways (just stay to the right if you're not going to be walking, guys).  But I feel very strongly about how people should behave in elevators and I unfortunately spend a lot of time fuming over this topic.

The main issue I have been fixed on, is a new phenomenon for me.  While I have seen it happen elsewhere, rarely does a week go by at work that I do not encounter it.  "It" being I get on an elevator, someone gets on after me, and they don't push a button.  I work on the top floor of my building - there's nowhere else for them to go.  Once we get to my floor, they laugh likes it's the funniest thing in the world and press the button for their floor and go back down.  But this happens every week!  With different people!  There are supposed to be really bright people at this Institution.  I just don't understand this at all.  At least ask me to push the button for your floor for you.

Argh.  I'm getting riled.  Elevator Rule #1 - Make sure the button for your floor is pressed.  I'd hope this would be a commonly known axiom, but I guess we have to start at the beginning.

Bowling

Bowling has always played a part in my life.  When I was little, I was jealous of all the trophy's my older brother had from various academic and athletic ventures, so my mother gave me her only trophy so I could pretend I had one, too (I know, it's a little sad).  Her trophy was from the bowling league she joined when my brother was born, because he was a bit of a crier and the bowling alley offered free babysitting.  Brilliance does run in the family, it's true.  Anyway, she was a terrible bowler, but she still got a trophy at the end of the season, and it has been a prized Withers family possession ever since.

Bringing the story full circle, Beet and I just signed up for a bowling league this winter with some of our friends.  I'm so excited.  I can't wait to orchestrate the entire crowd singing the classic song "Score Tonight" from one of my top-3 favorite movies, "Grease 2."  It is going to be epic.

 

Score Tonight! 

Fun fact!  When I was in high school, I had a bowling birthday party, and my two of my friend's and I learned this song and dance and performed.  Not at all embarrassing and completely awesome!

Horrifying

Real quick:

I'm about to take an on-line survey and the first question is what kind of foot condition do you have.  Some of the options are going to haunt my dreams tonight.  I'd rather be set on fire than developing any of the following:

Claw Toes
Hammer Toes
Lederhose's Disease (I better cut back on my wearing of lederhosen)
Mallet Toes (completely different from Hammer Toes)

The images in my head are frightening.

Get ready for awesomeness

New sneakers on the way!

6pm.com

WEEEEOOOOWEEEEEOOOOOWEEEEEOOOOOO.

That's the alarm for awesome.  Everyone knows I love me my 'Roos.  I have worn my current pair down and I can't ignore the holes in them any longer.  Get excited for my new kicks, folks.  They'll be making their debut shortly.  Prepare accordingly.  Your own shoes are going to seem mediocre after you see mine.