Today’s post is dedicated to my friend Kyle.

I don’t have anything specific to write - only these two links to share:

Here and here.

Ahhh, spring.  That time of year when a young man’s fancy turns to thoughts of…..

…hot college boys in shorts, flip-flops, and snug t-shirts that always seem to pull up to reveal the slightest hint of their lithe…..oh, ummm never mind.

A meme from EPiscoSours that I thought was appropriate as we all start to think about doing our taxes and complain about what they cost us…

From What Privileges Do You Have?, based on an exercise about class and privilege developed by Will Barratt, Meagan Cahill, Angie Carlen, Minnette Huck, Drew Lurker, Stacy Ploskonka at Illinois State University. If you participate in this blog game, they ask that you PLEASE acknowledge their copyright. (Copyright hereby acknowledged!)

Bold the true statements.

1. Father went to college.

2. Father finished college.

3. Mother went to college.

4. Mother finished college.

5. Have any relative who is/was an attorney, physician, or professor. (Does a veterinarian count? If he’s also a Ph.D.?)

6. Were the same or higher class than your high school teachers.

7. Had more than 50 books in your childhood home.

8. Had more than 500 books in your childhood home. (I admit I’m guessing here, but there were a lot.)

9. Were read children’s books by a parent.

10. Had lessons of any kind before you turned 18.

11. Had more than two kinds of lessons before you turned 18.

12. The people in the media who dress and talk like me are portrayed positively.

13. Had a credit card with your name on it before you turned 18.

14. Your parents (or a trust) paid for the majority of your college costs.

15. Your parents (or a trust) paid for all of your college costs.

16. Went to a private high school.

17. Went to summer camp.

18. Had a private tutor before you turned 18.

19. Family vacations involved staying at hotels.

20. Your clothing was all bought new before you turned 18.

21. Your parents bought you a car that was not a hand-me-down from them.

22. There was original art in your house when you were a child [kid’s work is original!]

23. You and your family lived in a single-family house.

24. Your parent(s) owned their own house or apartment before you left home.

25. You had your own room as a child.

26. You had a phone in your room before you turned 18.

27. Participated in a SAT/ACT prep course.

28. Had your own TV in your room in high school.

29. Owned a mutual fund or IRA in high school or college.

30. Flew anywhere on a commercial airline before you turned 16.

31. Went on a cruise with your family.

32. Went on more than one cruise with your family.

33. Your parents took you to museums and art galleries as you grew up.

34. You were unaware of how much heating bills were for your family.

21 of 34, for 62%. That’s a pretty good reminder to stop complaining about what I don’t have.

The Jefferson Law Book Company publishes the Journal of Maritime Law and Commerce.

The associate editor of this journal is (I kid you not): Professor John Paul Jones.

In celebration of the holiday, I’ll take up the meme I found on a new favorite blog I read: In Repair.

1. Wrapping or gift bags?

Despite the fact that I bitch about the wrapping every year, I really do prefer to wrap. I only use gift bags for those items that really just don’t wrap well.

2. Real or artificial tree?

Artificial. We are never home at Christmas, and I don’t need some dried up fir burning down my house!

3. When do you put up the tree?

As soon after Thanksgiving as possible. Like, the next day.

4. When do you take the tree down?

Right after New Year’s generally.

5. Do you like eggnog?

LOVE IT! Try making pancakes with it - I hear that’s delish. Don’t forget the side of Lipitor^TM.

6. Favorite gift received as a child?

Wow, I don’t know. Maybe the bicycle I got one year - that was a big deal.

7. Do you have a nativity scene?

Nope. Yes, I know Christmas celebrates the birth of Christ. I just haven’t found a Nativity scene I particularly like.

8. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?

Hmmm, I can’t really think of one.
9. Mail or email Christmas cards?

Neither. I don’t send them. Yes, I know I’m a horrible family member and friend.

10. Favorite Christmas Movie?

Oooo tough call. maybe A Christmas Story - it’s classic. But I also have a big soft spot for the original Miracle on 34th Street.

11. When do you start shopping for Christmas?

Whenever it strikes me, usually sometime around early November I guess.

12. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?

Oh, my mother’s flourless Grand Marnier^TM Chocolate Torte. It takes all day to make, but it’s heavenly.

13. Clear lights or colored on the tree?

CLEAR. CLEAR. CLEAR. Is that clear?
14. Favorite Christmas song?

Lately I’m partial to “Mary, Did You Know?”, especially Kathy Mattea’s version.

Like Brian at In Repair, I won’t tag anyone either, but feel free to add your comments.

Oh, and as I did last year, I’d like to remind everyone to please remember our troops this holiday season, especially those far from home and separated from their families this holiday. God bless them and their families.

Merry Christmas to all!

WE’RE GOING TO HAVE SNOW!!!! OH MY GOD IT WILL BE THE WORST STORM OF THE CENTURY – WE MIGHT EVEN GET 1 INCH!!!

PLEASE, GET TO THE STORE NOW AND GET BREAD, MILK, AND TOILET PAPER WHILE YOU STILL CAN!!! GET YOUR FAMILY SAFE INSIDE THE HOUSE BEFORE THE BLIZZARD WHICH WILL REQUIRE THEM TO KNOCK A FEW FLURRIES OFF THEIR SHOES BEFORE THEY COME IN!!! OH GOD IT WILL BE HORRIBLE

This dire warning about the approaching frost Armageddon brought to you by your local news station.

(How the hell do you spell that, anyway?)

I know I shouldn’t find this story funny, but I do. I feel bad for the officer (really) but I still got a chuckle out of it. Poor guy. Got quite a shock.

Tomorrow, Sunday, November 11th, is Veteran’s Day here in the United States.

This is a day that we recognize the sacrifices and contributions of our military veterans, both those who remain with us, and those who have passed on.  It is right and honorable that we do so.

The Department of Veteran’s Affairs has asked that military veterans wear their medals/ribbons on their civilian clothes tomorrow.  If you are a vet, please do so, and if you know one, ask them to do so.  We should all take the time to learn just how many of our fellow citizens have served this great nation.

If you know a veteran (or encounter one tomorrow), please take the time to thank them for their service.  Veteran’s don’t ask for much, but a simple “Thank you” goes a long way.  Take it from this vet.

For more information on Veterans Day, click here.

I have some more substantive posts (read as: “rants”) in mind, but I thought I’d share a few blogs that I added to my blogroll recently. They are blogs I check regularly, and I recommend you add them to your blog reading.

Charming, But Single

Charming blogs about her mid-20’s single life in a city down south. Although I am neither straight nor a woman, I love her blog. Probably because I’ve lived in the south and I’m attached to a southerner. I highly recommend you take the time and read back through her archives. Her writing is excellent.

I Can Has Cheezburger?

Simply put, ICHC is the site on the net for lolcats. Don’t know what lolcats are? Go there and find out!

The Atheocracy

Jeff Haws writes this blog, and what I love about it is that it calls out so called “christians” on their bullshit. People like Fred Phelps and Jerry Falwell. Mr. Haws always seems up for a respectful debate in his comments section, and he has some thought-provoking posts. I’m not an atheist myself, but I respect the dialogue he contributes to.

If you read my post below on Xenophobia, you’ll note that I complained about the ability of the person behind the counter at a local establishment to understand what I thought was a simple order.  Note an important aspect to that story:  I gave my full attention to the person taking my order and accepting my payment.

Not the same day, but at the same shop, I witnessed a different encounter.  7:45 am.  Woman walks in, cell phone glued to her ear, yapping away.  Orders her food.  Gets the bag, and hands the woman payment.  As you might imagine, she appears to be paying more attention to the telephone conversation than anything else.  When she takes her change, she starts shoving it in her purse, still yapping away, then suddenly starts complaining in a very loud voice about not getting the proper change.  She proceeds to berate the woman working at the counter, going so far as to say “I am not ignorant.”

A couple of observations about this:

1.  First off, just in general, what could be so almighty important that you have to be yapping on the phone about it at 7:45 in the morning?  She was not talking about anything work related, or any kind of medical emergency, from what little I could overhear.  She was carrying on about so-and-so said this and I-can’t-believe-she-went-out-with-him that.  Is that conversation really critical at that time of day?  Especially if one assumes, as I did, that it started in the car while driving and would be continued in the car while driving?

2.  If you behave in that manner, you might not be ignorant, but clearly your mama didn’t raise you right.  Because you are rude and selfish.  No, don’t argue with me - you just are.  If you can’t be bothered to put down the phone and communicate with another person like a civilized human being, you’re rude.  And selfish.  Period.  End of story.  Hang up the phone.

3.  Finally, if you don’t put down the phone and pay attention to what you’re doing with the person in front of you, don’t cop some entitled attitude and claim you aren’t ignorant.  Because you are.  Yes, you are.  You’re ignorant of the transaction you just conducted because you are not paying attention.   Your attitude gives that away.  No one gets in such a huff about a possible honest mistake when they are paying attention.  Have the common courtesy to not berate the woman who gives you change when a) you’re not paying attention to what’s going on and b) you think less of her because she’s a different ethnicity than you, probably a recent immigrant, and working behind the counter.  And while I don’t have any specific evidence to back that latter assertion up, I’d be willing to bet my meager life savings on it, because I’m that sure that is what was going through your head while you yapped away.

So, as I said:  You are not ignorant.  You are just a selfish bitch.