When do we stop blaming other people……..for the dumb poop we do?

I know it’s hard to accept blame for things………you learn to blame others at a very young age…..you blame your brother or sister…or dog…or imaginary friend…..No one likes to admit they screwed up. It’s embarrassing and it sure is easier to blame someone else. I think it’s a coping mechanism too.

The reason I am bringing this up is that I’ve been listening to all the reports and following all the television coverage of this Royal Carribean Cruise disaster. (note to self: my daughters are never going on a cruise with friends, to Daytona, Cancun or Aruba…….)
Are any of you following this story? I’ll admit that news is slow right now and there haven’t been many scandals to follow….since the Scott Peterson trial………So, I am or have been following this pathetic story. I remember many months ago seeing the story on one of my sfav hows on A & E, cold case or something….I thought it was an old story……..then this week it was on Larry King, last night on Primetime etc…so it’s not that old, only about 7 months now…..I really wish I had seen the wife on Oprah. I haven't seen the wife on ANY show at all. Why hasn't she been at the sides of the hubby's family? Where is she?

I don’t feel like explaining the story, and even I don’t know all the facts…..I believe there is a timeline of events on the Royal Carribean Cruise Line website…..which I will be checking out.

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/ourCompany/pressCenter/georgeSmith.do;jsessionid=0000e0pqEd97PkJr8nj_RPW0jm7:10ktmf05t

So, this attractive couple, (they look like total wild childs) newlyweds, go on their honeymoon….it’s a cruise of the Mediterranean. Sounds delightful. Now I have never been on a cruise and honestly I’m not sure I really want to unless it’s going someplace very exotic and the accommodations are outstanding and their or no kids allowed (my friend John and his partner just took a magnificent 25 day cruise hitting spots like Dubai, Mumbai, Cairo… now that’s a cruise!) Anyway, so cruising isn’t really for me but I know they are nice and if you have the money, quite luxurious. So this couple…are cruising along. The cruise ship to me is a floating bar or floating frat party, I should say. People are drunk 24/7 and carrying on.
Ths is a typical story. The couple gets drunk, the wife gets flirty with men on the cruise, the hubby gets angry, they have an argument………she storms off, he keeps drinking…he made some friends, they decide to walk him to his room to crash, he sees that the wife isn’t in her room, the hubby wants to look for her (drunk)….they still don’t find her and hubby goes back to the room to sleep…only he doesn’t sleep….he moves some furniture onto the balcony and next time we see him he’s a blood stain (rather significant one) on the awning (not sure of the proper ship terms). Next morning somehow….He ends up missing. Sure, I skipped a lot in between. That same night they found the wife passed out in a hallway….nice huh?
The parents and family of this guy are devastated. I would be too. It’s a terrible tragedy. But why is it the fault of the cruiseline? I mean, you are responsible for yourself. If you carry on like a maniac and end of fish food why is it anyone’s fault but your own? Is it really easier to believe he was murdered than to admit there was an accident?
I would just say it’s a terrible accident. It is what it is…an accident. I think he took the furniture out on the balcony, got up on it (drunk off his ass and angry at the wife….) slipped and fell, split his head open and fell into the big blue.

Career Ideas that I never really considered until now....

When I was a kid, I grew up in the sticks, the pine barrons if you will. My parents were city people so when they decided to move into the country, they really moved. It was so far from where they had lived and their families lived that we rarely had visitors........and when we did have parties, there was always the running joke about "had to pack a lunch to get here"......"you have electricity here". There were a lot of nice things about growing up in the middle of nowhere. My sister and I used to go ice-skating on the cranberry bogs. I was never any good at it and soon after my mom laced up my skates, I'd be ready to go home. I used to drive her crazy. When I'm not good at something I tend to quit. Another fun thing we used to do (in my memory fairly often....) was go to a livestock auction in our town. My town was mostly farms at that time, generations of farmers..... I loved going to the auction because before the auction started you could walk around the back, which was covered and look and touch all the animals. I loved that part. I guess I didn't know many were probably being sold to the slaughter......I was thinking they were pets. There was a time that my father was pretty serious about buying a goat, in fact I think he even bid on one once. So, after we went through the stables and saw all the animals (I loved the sheep and cows best) we would sit for a little while and watch the auction. They would bring in the animals...we all sat on old wooden bleechers.....some animals were hard to handle and that would be exciting. It was like being on another planet because we surely stuck out like sore thumbs, cowboy hatless and all..........

Long story short, I have always been entranced by the auctioneer. How does one learn this art?
The auctions at Christies surely don't sound anything like a livestock auction.

Then I considered how one gets into this profession? Is it passed down? Your daddy was an auctioneer? There's a school.....did you know?

I was glad to see that for Livestock Auctioneering (which is what I would do) the curriculum is only 5.0 hours!

I just never know what they say or what any of it means. I wonder if anyone has written any research papers about it. It's fascinating to me!

http://www.twiauctioneers.com/understading_the_auctioneers_cha.htm

http://www.waltonauctionsite.com/a-school.html

Does anyone know anyone that has ever bought one of these?

I know that's a silly-ass question but I am dying to know. I am sure if I go to Thailand or Nepal I would buy one.......you almost have to.

Now, I've seen this on TV and I didn't like what I saw (I think one of the Road Rules on MTV went to Thailand and had to get an elephant to paint something) but I didn't like how the "driver" or "Mahout" smacks them with a stick to get them to paint....I guess they don't feel it too much but still, they'd rather be doing something else. (except working in a curcus).......so these places call themselves "Conservatories".........do they mean if the elephants weren't painting they'd be a piano someplace?
So I guess it's better to paint. At any rate, how would I know I was getting a true elephant painting? Does it come with proof? This one is pretty darn good.

I wonder if I can get my cat, Pearlgrl to hold a brush on her tail for just a few strokes. God knows she lands her tail in my coffee cup almost every weekend morning when we sit on the sofa catching up on the week's events.

http://www.elephantart.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=417

Wonder if any of these players go "rage" crazy like their circus friends?

I heard recently about a sport that I didn't really believe to be true.......well I did believe it but it seemed silly to me.....it's called Elephant Polo. I've seen only one regular polo match once and it was fast and furious........this new polo (new to me) I imagined has to be slow......and boring.
Who knows? I do know that it seems to be linked with many efforts to conserve and save elephants. Do I think that the elephants would be happier in a reserve? Sure. I know they hate working in the circus....they attack every so often (not enough according to me) when they've had enough. I also don't think they are too fond of painting either. I guess painting beats the circus and the polo beats the circus........everything beats the circus!
I say we take elephants from the circus and start an American polo team. The elephants that are the stars can sign autographs during the periods using a paintbrush...........

http://elephantpolo.com/

For the person that has everything and $500 to just toss around.....

http://www.novica.com/itemdetail/index.cfm?pID=101704

http://blogs.nationalgeographic.com/channel/blog/2005/05/elephant_rage.html

Top 5 very bad kid's birthday ideas!

http://www.fitnessworksphiladelphia.com/kidparties.html

who the heck wants to work out at a birthday party..... in a smelly ass gym?.......talk about a complex mom and dad......what no cake???

http://www.partypop.com/vendors/3683393.htm?CFID=16786209&CFTOKEN=98841730

sounds like a fun idea but kids get deadly sick at these things.......... these animals sure look cute but don't touch without a sanitary wipe or antibacterial suit on.....then eat cake or cotton candy or popcorn or fennel cake.

http://www.eclipshair.com/kids/parties.htm

You have to know you WILL be in big trouble if you have this type of party. Imagine what monsters you will have created here.

ROOMMATES For kids Parents of burgeoning sophisticates who would prefer to spend the night away from home with a few friends may want to consider the Fabulous Birthdays Package at the Fairmont Dallas. The package provides an overnight stay in a deluxe suite at the hotel for the birthday child and nine friends. It includes an in-room movie, access to the rooftop pool and pizza and soft drinks. Adult supervision is required, and a chaperone may stay in the children's suite at no extra charge or pay for another room. Adult supervision is also required at the rooftop pool.• The Fairmont Dallas, 1717 N. Akard St. Check in at 3 p.m. and check out at noon. Fridays and Saturdays year-round, subject to availability. 1-800-441-1414. http://www.fairmont.com/dallas/. $250 for 10 children ages 6 to 13; $99 for additional room for parent or chaperone.

This sounds like real fun: Start showing your kids the high life now at a young age....... This way they learn disappointment early on. Does it appeal to anyone to be trapped in a luxury hotel for the night, watching movies???? as a kid I mean????

next worse idea is this one:
Feng Shui Birthday Parties at your home


Red Envelope Parties™Hosting a Red Envelope Party is a simple and fun way to learn the basic principles of Feng Shui, the basic Bagua, clutter control and intentional cleaning in your home, with your friends, rather than in a classroom.
Once we pick the date, you will get help with writing your invitations and planning the party. Each person attending is asked to bring a red envelope with $18 enclosed to exchange for the information received.
A Certified Feng Shui Consultant, will teach Basic Feng Shui and Clutter Control and you provide the refreshments, which can be as simple or as elaborate as you’d like. Guests leave with a booklet and the confidence to try some Feng Shui on their own.
The hostess is eligible for several hostess gifts, depending on the number of guests:
•
For the minimum of 6 guests - a 27% discount on a private Feng Shui consultation or a round, faceted 20 or 30 mm crystal for doing an adjustment.
•
For 9-15 guests - a 33% discount on a consultation or a 20-40mm crystal.
•
For over 15 guests - a 33% discount and a crystal.
Great for Book Groups, Work Gatherings and Birthday Parties!


please note these aren't in order from worst to worser.

Can we talk for a second about commericals that drive us bonkers?

Has anyone seen the new Hormel Chili commerical where everything people touch turns to chili in a can? My goodness, I don't know what the medical or scientifc term is for the anger and rage I feel when I see a commerical....but it gets so under my skin, then I have to watch it from beginning to end.

Now, I can turn the channel at "digger, the under the toenail thing" and the husband and wife mucous couple that move into your lungs when you have a cold--no problem, but some commericals........all those Liberty Mutual Health (RIP Lou Rawls) insurance ones......."who knew I could put all my spare change into a jar and get health insurance?" or "don't you wish life could be like this parking meter....where I can put coins in and stay here longer playing with my grandchildren?" All those commericals about the pending cost of a funeral! I can watch, I hate them but I watch......but I feel utter rage at the Hormel commercial.

First of all, we all love chili but when I want pepper on something, I don't want chili on it.............and the song??? The song, which is stuck in my head (probably smart marketing) is like a love song or something...........doesn't fit........at all. I am in the wrong line of work. I am going to write to Hormel and tell them how much I hate that damned Chili commerical...........line once a day!

http://www.hormel.com/brands/brandview3.asp?id=37&catitemid=3

http://www.lamisil.com/index.jsp