I Thought You Needed to Know This
While I was surfing on Blog Explosion, I found some great comments.

The first was from Sofyst whose post was called Is It Politically Correct to Say You are a Moron?. It explains how schools try to take religion out of history. But if you take it out of a history full of religion, what is left, but a seemingly meaningless past? I thought America was a place where we could practice religion freely. This is taking separation of church and state too far. Adam Softyst says it perfectly.

Then I'm surfing further, and a teacher is fired for having his students study The Declaration of Independence. I felt like using a bunch of curse words, but then my Blog Explosion account wouldn't be visible to children, so therefore I am restraining myself. But goodness gracious what the ....!??!?!??!!?

On a Happy Thanksgiving note, guess what!?!? I read the sweetest, happiest apology note on this blog: Butterflies & Stinging Nettles. It was like the greatest apology note. I'll reprint it here, and I will take it off, if the author requests it.

Public Apology
From me to Flirt. My comments on her site recently haven't been the kindest to say the least. She's just a girl, full of festive spirit, trying to have fun. I, on the other hand, hate the festive season, hate it being 'dressed up' far too much, and had PMS. None of which being a valid excuse I know.
I guess after a bit of thought I've realised that I was extremely out of line, and would like to offer my apologies to Flirt.
Sorry girl, your site does look pretty cool, even though I hate the 'C' season.
So I hope this can be the end of it, and I promise not to do it again.
Apologies again. xx

Phone Call With the Boyfriend
So I confronted boyfriend on Tuesday, and left a message on his answering machine, saying something to the effect that I was offended that he said I wasn't "the one". I said I didn't think he was "the one" either, and I appreciate the fact he was honest, but I didn't really think he was nice.

He called me back last night saying, "I didn't word it like that" (YES HE DID!!) and "You get offended over everything" (NO I DON'T!!) and "I think this relationship would be too difficult to continue" (Yeah, you work at relationships, big surprise!?!)

Well, anyway, I see our relationship deteriorating right before my eyes. It's not a pretty sight.

But I'm still happy he called me.

Buy Nothing Day
from http://urbanfox.blogspot.com/



This Saturday 27 November (or Friday 26 November if you're in the USA) is Buy Nothing Day.

The official website says:

"For 24 hours, millions of people around the world do not participate -- in the doomsday economy, the marketing mind-games, and the frantic consumer-binge that's become our culture. We pause. We make a small choice not to shop. We shrink our footprint and gain some calm. Together we say to Exxon, Nike, Coke and the rest: enough is enough. And we help build this movement to rethink our unsustainable course."

Why Wyoming?


I've been noticing where my visitors are from. I have to wonder if the people in Japan or France even read English, but they keep coming back. Or maybe there are most misguided Japanese and French people discovering my site, wondering what the heck I am saying.

However, people from 49 states have visited me. Let's see. The USA has 50 states. What state hasn't anyone visited me from yet? That would be Wyoming. I tried to visit some Wyoming blogs, so they would come to my site.

This worked with Arkansas, New Hampshire, and the Dakotas. No one from those states had visited my site, so I sought out blogs from those states, so they would visit me back and I could say I have been visited by all 50 states!

Well, Wyoming is still elusive. Even someone from Rhode Island, the smallest state has visited my blog. Maybe Wyoming has the least population or something. So if you know anyone from Wyoming, send them over my way ;)

Karma
I feel really uncomfortable talking about this situation and will not go into great detail.

Basically, this lady screwed me over and was very nice and polite about doing so.

I kind of bit the bullet and thought, oh well, everything doesn't turn out perfect all the time.

I just recently found out her son has leukemia and is in very bad condition.

I'm not happy this happened to her, but I can't help feeling that she deserves this in some way. These are not good feelings to have, and I wish I did not feel this way. I did not plan any revenge and I am not going to.

This is a child we are talking about. Less than 13 years old. I hate it when children suffer. Especially if they have stupid parents.

Anyway, I have been feeling guilty this whole week. On the other hand, I hope this experience opens her eyes and that she is more willing to help people in the future and not screw them over. Maybe life would be nicer to her.

Double Trouble
Last week I saw Smalltime Crooks with my boyfriend, as reported. Elaine May plays "Aunt May" whom Woody Allen has a brief affair with. (It's his wife's aunt, not his. That would be incest!)

Ok, so I'm watching The Human Stain and Anthony Hopkins' character's wife looks and sounds exactly like Elaine May. But I look it up on IMDB and it's Phyllis Newman. Whoever the heck she is. But I'm telling you, I thought they were sisters, cause they look and sound exactly alike.

A Gay Evening
As I was telling chitownfreak25 @ Mindsay, I went to a really good concert recently. I wasn't going to post the story here, but seeing how I've moved myself back to Tripod, and let Red Hat take over Mindsay, I thought why the heck not?

I consider myself to be straight. Most of my friends are female though, except my boyfriend and my gay friend who we'll call Michael.

I went to the concert with Leigh, my friend who has been boyfriendless for 6 months, because her boyfriend has turned gay, only I'm not supposed to know said boyfriend is gay. And she has had a couple of outside functions at work, where they will be in association with some gay parties across town. And she has attended these gay parties. Like 3 in the last 2 months!

So we're talking about her experiences at these funtions/parties/celebrations, and she's pointing out all the gay bars she's been to, when we're driving.

And I start thinking... WHAT IS A HETEROSEXUAL FEMALE DOING AT ALL THESE GAY BARS? It was really starting to freak me out. Especially since she and her friends got some pictures of her and this gay guy in "hot" poses.

So I'm asking why this guy was rubbing up against her and stuff if he was gay. She said, "Oh, I don't know. Maybe he wanted to find out if he was bi. A lot of gay guys are attracted to me, I'm like a magnet that draws them. Michael was so cute anyway."

I say "MICHAEL!? He isn't really cute is he?"

LEIGH: Yes.

ME: He doesn't have really short, spiky hair, does he?

LEIGH: Yes.

ME: His hair is dark?

LEIGH: Yes. Brown!

I'm freaking out, thinking my gay friend Michael just put his hand all over her ass and other places.

ME: Is he really tall?

LEIGH: Ye- no, he's as short as me, practically.

And since Leigh is shorter than me, and since Michael is taller than me, I safely assumed that this was a different Michael. Phew.

While I was glad that we were talking about different Michaels, I was still concerned that Leigh was attending all these gay functions, especially since her boyfriend has just come out of the closet. All our conversations turn to who is gay or what latest thing is going on in the gay community.

She is a really sweet girl and teaches Sunday school. However, there are just somethings that bother me about her. She'll say really weird things that are left-of-center.

I come from a very conservative home and she was trying to get me to order a Margarita when we went out. I've had a Margarita once in my life, and that's when I was in Paris. I'm not crazy about them, so I'm not going to spend $ for something that I don't want.

Anyhow, I'm really concerned about her fascination with the gay world. First, she went to these things for work, but now, I don't know. She seems very heterosexual and wants to have children, but now she puts all men down and I'm afraid she may be using a guy friend of hers. He has feelings for her, but she just wants to have a good time with him....

*SIGH*

The Meaning of Rance
from http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=rance

rance

\Rance\, n. [Etymol. uncertain.] 1. A prop or shore. [Scot.]

2. A round between the legs of a chair.


Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, ? 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.


Ha, I found this in the dictionary online!




visitors since October 24, 2004



My visitors have been from:

Alabama United States <- Huntsville, not Opelika!
Alaska United States
Alberta Canada
Alsace France
Ar Riyad Saudi Arabia
Arhus Denmark
Arkansas United States
Arizona United States
Baden-wurttemberg Germany
Bayern Germany
Bern Switzerland
British Columbia Canada
Brussels Belgium
Buskerud Norway
California United States <- must be Tad and movie producers!
Castilla Y Leon Spain
Cataluna Spain
Colorado United States
Connecticut United States
Delaware United States
Denmark
Distrito Federal Argentina
Dubai United Arab Emirates
Dublin Ireland
England United Kingdom <- must be Prince Charles!
Florida United States
Galicia Spain
Gelderland Netherlands
Georgia United States
Guam
Hajdu-bihar Hungary
Hawaii United States
Hessen Germany
Hong Kong (sar) Hong Kong
Idaho United States
Illinois United States <- must be KJ!
Indiana United States
Iowa United States
Japan
Kansas United States
Kentucky United States
Lisboa Portugal
Lombardia Italy
Louisiana United States <- Must be Sass!
Maharashtra India
Maine United States <- must be Stephen King!
Manila Philippines
Manitoba Canada
Maryland United States
Masqat Oman
Massachusetts United States
Michigan United States
Minnesota United States
Mississippi United States
Missouri United States
Montana United States <- must be Annie!
Nebraska United States
Nevada United States
New Brunswick Canada
New Hampshire United States
New Jersey United States
New Mexico United States
New South Wales Australia
New York United States
Noord-brabant Netherlands
Noord-holland Netherlands
Nordrhein-westfalen Germany
North Carolina United States
North Dakota United States
Northern Ireland United Kingdom
Nova Scotia Canada
Ohio United States
Oklahoma United States
Ontario Canada
Oregon United States
Oslo Norway
Pennsylvania United States
Provence-alpes-cote D'azur France
Quebec Canada
Rhode Island United States
Rizal Philippines
S?o Paulo Brazil
Schaffhausen Switzerland
Scotland United Kingdom
Sindh Pakistan
Singapore Singapore
Sogn Og Fjordane Norway
South Carolina United States
South Dakota United States
Stockholms Lan Sweden
Tasmania Australia
Tennessee United States
Texas United States
Tokyo Japan
Utah United States
Utrecht Netherlands
Vermont United States
Vestfold Norway
Victoria Australia
Virginia United States
Washington United States
Washington Dc United States <- Could be Prez Bush wanting to know about Rance & Hollywood!!
Wellington New Zealand
West Virginia United States
Western Australia Australia
Wisconsin United States
Zuid-holland Netherlands
Zurich Switzerland

Updated: 11/25/04

Blog Explosions explodes in my face!
Hi everybody in Greeneville, South Carolina! I know you're out there, because every time I check my stats, it says like 8 people from Greeneville have visited me. I thought it was a fluke the first couple weeks, because if that many people were visiting here, surely one would say hi. But as of yet, I don't know anyone from there, so show your face!

Also, you know how on Blog Explosions, when they will assign mystery credits? Well, I have done that like 7 times or more, and once it said "Mystery credits not awarded properly." WTF!??! It has never happened again since a week ago, but I wonder has anyone else had the mystery credits not awarded properly?

Also I don't know what to use these credits for. Maybe for a banner to direct people to your site? I'll have to create one though, so many I'll work on that this weekend, but I'd rather not bother :P

Hat Show #2
For Hat Show #1, go to Mindsay

Red Hat, what do you feel like having for breakfast?



Red Hat, you have a mind of your own, don't you?



Red Hat, what are you doing hanging on the lamp?



Red Hat, what month is it?



Red Hat, what are you in the mood for tonight? Bonnie and Clyde or All About Eve?



Red Hat, what do you want for dessert?



Red Hat, it's time to go to sleep. I see you're all tucked in for bed.

New Charlie's Angels Home
UPDATE: The new Charlie's Angels site is HERE (Angel BGC, Lora, Shorty, Nissa and Agent Pepito H. Smith).

Free Cake For Everyone!!
Today is the 4 month anniversary of blogging in cyberspace! Yay. I'm so glad to have met a lot of my readers. There have been a lot of readers from the Netherlands lately, so welcome! And I hope you enjoy your time here. Also check out my Mindsay blog where I have more personal posts. This blog is more Rance-related.

Raspberry Beret -- The Kind that you Find in a really expensive Store
I have a new visitor from:

Provence-alpes-cote D'azur France

Hi! I have a question for you. I've always heard that French people don't wear berets like people think they do. Is this true? For all of you who haven't seen my hat that I talk about on my other blog, here's a pic:



I know it isn't exactly a beret, but the manufacturer actually calls it a beret

I'll post more pictures later this week when I get them uploaded. That pic is from the Agnes B website.

Hi Blog Explosion Traffic!
Hey all you people in BE land, I'm talking to you! I really like you or so I think.

However, I was kind of mad at the first person who rated my blog. They rated it a "4", so my blog was sitting on BE, with a 4 rating. And I thought, what the heck?

So I checked out the person who rated my site a 4. No wonder they had a problem with me. I had a problem with them! They had a movie review on their site, dissing Something's Gotta Give with Diane Keaton.

I knew then why they disliked me. We were two different people. I absolutely adored that movie! When I went to Paris, I passed by Plaza Athenee, the hotel where Jack Nicholson's character had stayed, just because it was in the movie. And I ate at Le Grand Colbert just because it had been Diane Keaton's character's favorite cafe in Paris. I mean that movie reached the depths of my soul. And this fellow blog explosions member dissed the heck out of it.

That being said, I checked my rating, and it's much higher now that a few nice people have rated it nice ratings. Including Surly, who left a nice message on my blog yesterday. I like Surly and I'm sure I'll like you too.

Now, I'm not begging for high ratings just for the sake of it. But as a rule, I don't tend to rate blogs unless I like them. Because #1, I might not know enough about the blog for me to give it a fair rating #2 they can see my name and track me down!! I'm just asking that I don't get "4" ratings. I find it hard to believe I suck that badly! If I do, sorry.

If you're from BE, don't be afraid to leave me a note. I won't bite. That is unless you don't like Something's Gotta Give. ;) just kidding. But hey, tell me about yourself or something. Favorite movie(s)?

Trigger Week Part 2 I think
Birth with Nicole Kidman is a terrible film. I can handle the whole adult with a minor thing. If I couldn't, I wouldn't have seen it. But it is an awful film, even though it offers a fresh perspective. Fresh isn't enough to rise above slow and less-than-perfect acting.

Nic is wonderful, but I found myself wanting to slap Anne Heche on more than one occasion. Nic sighed one too many times in the film though, and it really got on my nerves.

The music is awful. It has this bass sound that keeps thumping. I wanted to strangle the composer! Then there were chimes that were out of place. The music went from happy-chimey to sparse-bassey. It didn't flow with the movie, and was a distraction. I would have preferred no music in the film at all.

I would have preferred that the director yelled at the actors a little more, asking them to pick up the pace. We don't need to see Nic's husband jogging for three minutes straight in the beginning of the movie...AND WITH NO OPENING CREDITS! Come on, a long, drawn-out opening sequence with no credits? And he's just jogging in the snow???

Forget that!

The week before, coincedentally, I had seen Get Out Your Handkerchiefs with Gerard Depardieu. He is open to his wife having extramarital affairs, but does not like the fact that she chose a 13 year old boy.

All Birth and Get Out Your Handkerchiefs have in common is an older woman having an affair with an underage boy. Get Out Your Handkerchiefs was half-way entertaining and had a good story and likeable characters. The boy in Birth was a good actor, but his character was unlikeable and even creepy.

There is also a book remarkably similar to the idea of Birth. It's called Walter's Purple Heart, written by Catherine Ryan Hyde (author of Pay it Forward). An older woman finds her husband reincarnated... I think the boy is not underage. He might still be in his teens though. The book was fascinating, captivating and had more substance than Birth. Birth could have been good like Get Out Your Handkerchiefs and Walter's Purple Heart, but it did not turn out that great. Without spoiling the ending, I'll only say it could have been better written.

I was going to send a message to the Blog Explosions visitors, but I will do that tomorrow. Stay tuned.