Noel, Noel, Go Away

Here's the deal. We're out of school the week of Thanksgiving, right? We have trip to Oklahoma planned for the Saturday to Saturday Thanksgiving week. However---IF we have a hurricane or tropical storm that results in days missed from school, Thanksgiving week will be used as make-up days. No exceptions. Noel stay far, far away from Florida. Frankly, I'm saying that for purely selfish reasons, but it's time to go home.

Bill and Patty Move To Florida

(I can say that because my dad sent the pic. LOL)

Random

In times of rapid change, experience could be your worst enemy.

Jean Paul Getty

The more you read and observe about this Politics thing, you got to admit that each party is worse than the other. The one that's out always looks the best.
Will Rogers, Illiterate Digest (1924), US humorist

I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history, naval architecture, navigation, commerce, and agriculture, in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain.
John Adams US diplomat & politician (1735 - 1826)

Things We Didn't Know Last Year, Part 2

Australians host barbecues at polling stations on general election days.

You’re 10 times more likely to be bitten by a human than a rat.

George Bernard Shaw named his shed after the UK capital so that when visitors called they could be told he was away in London.

Koalas have fingerprints exactly like humans (although obviously smaller).

Musical instrument shops must pay an annual royalty to cover shoppers who perform a recognizable riff before they buy, thereby making a “public performance”.

Newborn dolphins and killer whales don’t sleep for a month, according to research carried out by University of California.

Great Dog, Great Photo

I don't know this little fellow, but his picture was so perfect, I just had to borrow it.

His name is Southwell and he's waiting for Santa.

They Might Be Giants

Birdhouse In Your Soul

"Pushing Daisies" has Olive hanging-out with Chuck's aunts. You KNEW this would lead to an Ellen Greene/Kristin Chenoweth duet. I guess just including snippets of songs keeps us tuning-in next week, hoping for theatrics. (As a sidebar, isn't it adorable that Digby gets to ride shotgun?)

Disney's New Logo

Here is the new logo for Disney's Hollywood Studios, which on Jan. 1 becomes the new name for the current Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park at Walt Disney World.

Things We Didn't Know Last Year

From AAA Home Insurance in Great Britain:

Mohammed is now one of the 20 most popular names for boys born in England and Wales.

Devout Orthodox Jews are three times as likely to jaywalk as other people, according to an Israeli survey reported in the New Scientist. The researchers say it’s possibly because religious people have less fear of death.

Until the 1940s rhubarb was considered a vegetable. It became a fruit when US customs officials, baffled by the foreign food, decided it should be classified according to the way it was eaten.

It’s possible for a human to blow up balloons via the ear. A 55-year-old factory worker from China reportedly discovered 20 years ago that air leaked from his ears, and he can now inflate balloons and blow out candles.

One more for now--
The Queen has never been on a computer, she told Bill Gates as she awarded him an honorary knighthood.

Cory and Danielle's Construction Update

The front of the house

Inside the front room looking out toward the back yard

The front room looking toward the front yard

The kitchen before the cabinets

A portion of the garage

The view from the back yard toward the back porch

Thanks Kate and David

(I received this from two different people today. I've seen it before, but never blogged it.)

Rejected State Mottos

Alabama
At Least We're not Mississippi

Alaska
11,623 Eskimos Can't be Wrong!

Arizona
Dehyd-rific!

Arkansas
Litterasy Ain't Everthing

California
As Seen on TV

Colorado
If You Don't Ski, Don't Bother

Connecticut
Like Massachusetts, Only Dirtier and With Less Character

Florida
Ask Us About Our Grandkids

or Welcome To God's Waiting Room

Georgia
We Put the "Fun" in Fundamentalist Extremism

Hawaii
Haka Tiki Mou Sha'ami Leeki Toru

(Death to Mainland Scum, But Leave Your Money)

Idaho
More Than Just Potatoes...

Well Okay, We're Not, But The Potatoes Sure Are Real Good

Illinois
Gateway to Iowa

Indiana
2 Billion Years Tidal Wave Free

Iowa
Land of James T. Kirk

Kansas
First Of The Rectangle States

Kentucky
Five Million People; Fifteen Last Names

Louisiana
We're Not All Drunk Cajun Wackos, But That's Our Tourism Campaign

Maine
Cheap Lobster

Maryland
A Thinking Man's Delaware

Massachusetts
Our Taxes Are Lower Than Sweden's (For Most Tax Brackets)

Michigan
First Line of Defense From the Canadians

Minnesota
For Sale

Mississippi
Come Feel Better About Your Own State

Missouri
Your Federal Flood Relief Tax Dollars at Work

Montana
Land of the Big Sky,

the Unabomber, and Very Little Else

Nebraska
Ask About Our State Motto Contest

Nevada
Women of ill-repute and Poker!

New Hampshire
Go Away and Leave Us Alone

New Jersey
You Want a ##$%##! Motto?

I Got Yer ##$%##! Motto Right Here!

New Mexico
Lizards Make Excellent Pets

New York
You Have the Right to Remain Silent,

You Have the Right to an Attorney

North Carolina
Tobacco is a Vegetable

North Dakota
Um... We've got... Um... Dinosaur Bones?

Yeah, Dinosaur Bones!

Ohio
Don't Judge Us by Cleveland

Oklahoma
Like the Play, Only No Singing

Oregon
Spotted Owl, It's What's For Dinner

Pennsylvania
Cook With Coal

Rhode Island
We're Not REALLY An Island

South Carolina
Remember the Civil War? We Didn't Actually Surrender

South Dakota
Closer Than North Dakota

Tennessee
The Educashun State

Texas
Se Hablo Ingles

Utah
Our Jesus Is Better Than Your Jesus

Vermont
Yep

Virginia
Who Says Government Stiffs and Slackjaw Yokels Don't Mix?

Washington
Help! We're Overrun By Nerds and Slackers!

Washington, D.C.
Wanna Be Mayor?

West Virginia
One Big Happy Family -- Really!

Wisconsin
Come Cut Our Cheese

Wyoming
Wynot? Be good!

A Great Panoramic View of Tampa

When the image loads you can click and drag vertically or horizontally to receive the full 180 degree view. Now I'm looking for one like this of Orlando.
Sky Pics Imaging

The Big Kids

Today is Danielle and Cory's First Wedding Anniversary.

This pic was taken last month.

Donnie and Brooke September 2007 (We were celebrating Brooke's birthday.)

Thanks, Chris

How ALL business phones SHOULD be answered!

GOOD MORNING, WELCOME TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!

Press '1' for English.

Press '2' to disconnect until you learn to speak English.

And remember only two defining forces have ever
Offered to die for you:
Jesus Christ
And the American Soldier.
One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.

Halloween Beckons

Leavin' Texas - Jerry Jeff Walker

Al Gore: Hollywood Yesterday, Today The World

(From Lucianne.com about Al Gore's Nobel prize.)

The Wall Street Jounal runs an editorial today (don't see it openly online) about all those who did NOT get the "Peace Prize":

Burmese Monks.

Zimbabwe opposition.

Demands of women's rights in Saudi Arabia.

Garry Kasparov fighting for democracy in Russia.

People of Iraq.

Chinese bloggers.

Those helping North Korean refugees.

And more. Nope.

The Nobel Prize committee ran away from any *real* issues of war and peace.

It's no longer the Nobel Peace Prize but the Nobel PC prize.

(I guess Al Gore's film and carbon-offset business don't fit into the Science category, but PEACE?)

Broadway Tickets Not Required

Kristin Chenoweth (Olive Snook) singing “Hopelessly Devoted to You” during the episode “Dummy” of PUSHING DAISIES.

Just When You Think You've Seen It All

Don't miss the apple part. These gals have no bones.