So, I was talking to a friend via Skype and I started pestering about Bakugan. My nephew is totally into this, and since I have no idea what it’s about I had to do some research. Since I had to do the research anyway, I decided to take advantage of it and build a lens on it.

So, I’m chatting away about Bakugan board games, 700g Bakugan (seriously, I have no idea what this means, I think it’s a power thing?), and my friend asks me what Bakugan is. So, in a case of the blind leading the blind, I tell him it’s a cross between Transformers and Pokemon. Then I tell him that I’m too young for Transformers and too old for Pokemon. He asks how old I am, I say 29 turning 30 in like 12 days, and he says he’s 27 and HE’s not too young for Transformers, and I said “Yeah, but I’m a girl.”. So his response is “My Little Ponies?”, and mine is an embarrassed yes.

Next thing you know, he posts a link to this video.

If you don’t know who Rammstein is, they’re an awesome German band that apparently writes songs about incest, which is sick. But it’s in German, so no one really knows if that’s a rumor or truth unless they actually speak German and then you have to work on the basis that they’re not lying. Their Du Hast was insanely popular a few years back, and I still love it.

Update: I just found Spongebob singing Rammstein’s Du Hast. So had to include this.

Our trusty old van, the one that’s been in the family since 1995, has begun having transmission problems. In fact, it slips out of gear several times even on short trips, though not EVERY time we drive it. Pretty close, though. Anyway, we were about 2 weeks away from sucking it up and going to a car lot. Lo and behold, a good friend at work approached my husband just as we began discussing our need for a new vehicle and offered us his old van at less than half its retail value.

I’m pretty attached to my old van, and I don’t like white vehicles, so it actually took some doing to convince me to buy it even though my husband was in love at first sight. The thing is, while I love our new van now, we’re both stupidly attached to the old one. So, despite there being all of two in our family, we have 3 vehicles to insure.

I have tenure at my insurance company, and he has tenure at his. Neither of us wants to give up our insurance company! But, things are tight and we’re seriously discussing looking into dumping my insurance and moving the old Ford onto hubs’ insurance. I’m already a secondary driver on his insurance, and the van isn’t actually worth anything, so it would probably save us $30-40 a month. The question is, is that worth it?

If we lived in the south I’d probably start looking for cheap liability insurance tx, but here in the north, insurance tends to run a bit more. Getting a number of different quotes is the best way to make sure that you’re getting the best deal on insurance, and I certainly did that when I moved on from my junker car (my first car, Honda Accord and I HATED that sucker!) to my first real car (Olds Cutless Supreme SL- and I LOVED that sucker, still miss it). That’s how I ended up going through an insurance brokerage instead of directly through the insurance companies. I had no idea what I needed, and my agent worked with me to get the best coverage to cost ratio. Seriously, I think that a lot of insurance agents are sharks, but since I went to him AFTER making all those calls myself, I really think of him as a Godsend.

Now, to decide what to do with my sweet old Ford.a href=”http://www.cheap-autoinsurance.com/texas-auto-insurance.htm”>cheap liability insurance tx

Besides, I have way too many posts to write on my niche sites and I’d rather procrastinate.

1. Since I can’t concentrate in absolute silence OR with something interesting on the TV, I’ve taken to turning on the virtual fireplace screensaver on Comcast OnDemand (go to TV Entertainment, scroll down to the bottom- TV Screensavers). Every time my husband walks into the room, he goes straight over to the TV and warms his hands by the “fire”.

2. Am I right in thinking that any keyword where the first result in the search engines turns out to be Mahalo (another search engine of sorts) should be really easy to dominate?

3. I’ve discovered that I’m not as big of a fan of Sauvignon Blanc as I used to be, but I never get tired of smelling it.

4. Prescription drugs aside from for short term issues like a nasty cold are the tool of the devil. I’m pretty sure anyway. Since I went off the Metformin and hubs went off the Simvastatin, our health and moods have been exponentially better.

5. I totally love the word “incontrovertible”.

6. It’s a good thing that I’m too laid back/lazy to do anything with my opinions, because I often find that my opinions are wrong.

7. I have a new site for historical reenactment costumes, and have found that researching posts is waaaay too distracting. Simple shoe sites turn out to be pack with period information, and while researching renaissance shoes, I found out just how dang easy they are to make. Now I need good needles and imitation sinew so I can try it out! Unfortunately, my interest in medieval and renaissance shoes is distracting me from the more profitable Civil War shoes post that I want to promote.

8. I can’t concentrate to work at all when I’m at all hungry. This does nothing for my health or profits.

9. I’ve found out that I make an awesome chicken corn noodle soup from scratch. I’m only a little miffed that hubs can’t tell the difference when I substitute Maneschewitz’s chicken broth for my own home made stock. (I’d be more miffed, but opening a can is a LOT less work)

10. I totally want this Lunchin’ Ladies lunch bag tote from QVC in the patent burgandy or that cute plaid. Yanno… my birthday’s coming up (not that I’m hinting or anything).

11. I’ve also just found out that Monster Energy Drink hates America, or at least American small business. This is what I hate about corporate America. First they’re not satisfied with their profit margins when hiring, oh, their customers? So they ship as much of their work over seas as they can. But that’s not good enough, nooooo. They also have to take out anyone who is competition, or who could some day become competition. Monster is suing a small brewery in Vermont because one of their beers is called.. get this… Vermonster. Because, obviously Vermonster is a play on Monster’s brand and not, oh, a play on the state of VERMONT. See, companies have been doing this to website owners for years, but this is the first that I’ve heard of a huge company trying to destroy a little one with absolutely no legal leg to stand on. You know what they did. They obviously did a search for all drink companies with the word “monster” in their name and sent out form notices. I’ll bet they don’t even know who this guy is! That’s what they do with websites, why would it be any different offline? See my full rant about Monster Energy Drinks by clicking that link.

And now, my brain has officially checked out, so… that’s it for probably another month or two.

hysteria
A mythical emotional disorder ascribed only to women for about 2,500 years. In ancient Greece, it was ascribed to not being pregnant often enough. In Roman times, it was ascribed to not having enough sex.  In Medieval times, and colonial times in North America, it was ascribed to not having enough or sufficient orgasms. In Victorian times and during the early 20^th century, it was also ascribed to too much intellectual stimulation and became an excuse for denying education and voting rights to women. At the beginning of the 20^th century, U.S. doctors invented the vibrator to treat hysteria. They brought women to orgasm with vibrators, which would supposedly calm them down and keep them from becoming hysterical. See “wandering uterus.”

Wow. That’s the last time I tell someone they’re being hysterical or referring to something as hysterical. Seriously.  Though you girls can use this to give your men hints. And it was developed by doctors? For medical treatment? Yeesh. Ya learn new things every day!

wandering uterus
A mythical emotional disorder first described in ancient Athens by Hippocrates, who is considered the “father of medicine.” Hippocrates taught that, unless a woman was pregnant often enough, her uterus would wander around inside her body looking for a fetus to inhabit it. As the uterus rose inside her, she would become hysterical. If she did not have sex with a man and become pregnant, the uterus would rise into her throat and strangle her. See “hysteria.”

Bwahahahahaha! I’m sorry, I just think this is hilarious. Granted, this is me with all our modern medical knowledge and all, but… seriously! And notice how it was always men that came up with these theories?

merkin
A wig for the genitals, used from the 16^th to the 18^th centuries by people who had lost their pubic hair due to small pox or scarlet fever. Now used to describe decorative patches worn over the genitals.

I so, so, so badly want to write a historical now, just so that I can use this! I also need to find a searchable database of Shakespeare’s works because I’m certain I’ve seen him use the term “merkin” in an insult before.

normophilia ­
Sexual preferences that are considered common or “normal” according to social norms.

Really? Really? Apparently because every possible deviant sexual behavior and preference is so widely accepted now, we actually have to define and name non-deviant behavior. Uhhhhh….

You know how you get those flyers in the mail with all kinds of check designs, and address labels, and checkbooks? Yeah, I will pore over those with agonizing detail…. and then not order any of them. I have no idea why this is. I didn’t have a book of checks with my correct name on it for about 2 1/2 years after I got married. And then? I got as far as picking out the address labels, and decided that I might as well just hand write my name on all of the 3 envelopes that I send out every year.

However, a good friend of mine taught me a trick several years ago, and this is a good reason to actually pick out some good designs- every time she lent out a book that she wanted back? She’d stick address labels inside the cover of the book. Brilliant! And now I have a stack of more than a dozen books to lend to a friend, and I’ve got to get to ordering!

Now, I just want to reiterate that I am NOT a fan of non-fic or self-help. A friend of mine who is a fan of both is also reviewing this book, and she absolutely loves it. Possibly the fact that I’m trying to read it during a time that I would normally be reading fluff books instead of while bored at jury duty is influencing my feelings on this book. Unfortunately, the feeling that is most pronounced to me is… boredom.

While I thought the tiny little book The Prayer of Jabez was too long for its content, I feel that You Were Born For This should be the size of The Prayer of Jabez. Seriously. I also have problems with anyone who prescribes or suggests steps or formulas for anything to do with their walk with God. Jesus came to release us from the law, no? Then why is everyone trying to shove us back in there?

Granted, I truly do understand that this book is not intended to be a formula for miracles. I realize that the “keys” are really just totally opening yourself to let God take over your life, as you’re supposed to do. And the miracles he’s talking about are not the making the lame to walk and the blind to see kind of miracles. However, every time he mentions miracles, all I can think of is that people were healed when Paul’s shadow fell on them. Was Paul concentrating really hard on listening to what God told him to do when that happened? Maybe. I mean, we ARE supposed to listen to God. But what it really was, was the Holy Spirit moving through him.

I don’t know, I realize that where I’m coming from, and where Mr. Wilkinson is coming from is not the same place. It IS an uplifting book, and it can certainly help you to decide to let God take over. If you’re the sort of reader who appreciates someone taking the long way round a subject and repeating the same thing over and over but in different ways, you would appreciate this book. But if you’re the sort of person (like me) who tends to say “get on with it already!”, then, I’d give this a miss.

If you’re interested, you can order the book directly through Random House, or click the book photo above to go to Amazon to order.

In America, we have Lane Bryant, Romans, Torrid, and a few others. In the UK, however, you have Simply Be.

I’m actually quite impressed with their offerings. Their dresses are super cute, many of which I’d love to have if it weren’t for three things: 1 I’d have to figure out how sizes differ between American sizing and UK sizing, not to mention that most brands don’t even agree on that. 2 I’d have to pay an arm and a leg due to exchange rates and international shipping. And 3,  no matter how cute the dress or how comfortable the size, very few dresses look good on a woman with a stomach. No hourglass figure? Need not apply.

Their Clothing Catalgoue doesn’t end at dresses, however. They have some super cute crop pants (totally my style), and an adorable “rock chic” tank top…er, “vest” which would go great with the crop pants. I’ll admit, though, that the 70’s style pants, er, “trousers” and boy shorts are… lame. And a couple of the oversized t-shirts/tunics just scream to be lit up. With a match.  So, not a total win, but much better options than we tend to get on this side of the pond.

Seriously, I managed to get through the entire summer season with maybe one or two bites total- until Monday.

Sunday was the first cool day of the summer, and hubs and I went out at dusk to walk around Stauffer Mansion (of which the grounds were turned into a local park), which tends to be a bit buggy anyway. So, Monday I wake up with two mosquito bites on my left ankle. Not so bad. Almost amusing given that they’re the first bites I’d had in months.

And then I woke up Tuesday. Itchy as heck. I now have 2 bites on my left ankle, 5 bites on my left calf, 4 bites on my right calf, and two bites on my left wrist. I thought that it was perhaps happening while I was asleep, but fact is, I cover my butt up even if I’m sweating! And all the bites are below the hem of my capris except for the ones on my wrist.

Hubs has all of ONE bite. I accused him of wanting to use me as mosquito bait when he asked me to take a walk with him tonight.

Now, get this, hubs actually found an article that probably explains why these buggers are all over me, but not him. According to an article on the Wall Street Journal, mosquitoes are repelled by stress. My husband? Psycho stress ball. Me? People are lucky if I even pay attention to them, let alone actually have a reaction.

It may be time to start obsessing over my upcoming jury duty again before I turn into one big itchy ball.

While you can certainly get a good start on a free site, such a blogger or even Squidoo, or a professional site built for freelancers or authors, it’s always best to snag your own domain before someone else does. And if you have the domain, well, it would be silly not to use it, right?

So in comes WebHosting Geeks. They’re a review and recommendation site, where you can find all the information you need to pick out a great webhost no matter your price range or feature needs.  All of their currently featured hosts are also offering free domains with purchase- but be careful with that. If you should choose to change hosts later on, you may lose the domain as well.

One of the nice features about this site is that they have a series of articles on webhosting in general, such as how to choose a web host, or hosting overseas.

The one thing that I don’t like about the site is that my favorite host isn’t listed on their recommended sites, but that’s for a different post.

In book one of the Wingfeather Saga, we find out that the three Igiby children are what is known as The Jewels of Anniera, being the king, the throne warden, and the song maiden. Since the dreaded and evil Fangs of Dang (vicious lizard men who are servants of Gnag the Nameless) have now found out who the Igiby children are, they (the children) along with their mother, grandfather, and an old friend are on the run to the north, where they believe the frigid temperatures will keep them safe from the heat loving Fangs.

Where the first book was mostly set up and back story, book two is all action. North! Or Be Eaten keeps up a proper pace for an adventure-fantasy, and is fraught with hidden dangers, jealousy, anger, remorse, and deadly secrets (which are not the same as hidden dangers).

The pace keeps the story hopping, and the unusual world keeps you guessing at what’s going to come next.  The focus is less on the twisted humor (”a nameless evil, called Gnag the Nameless”), and more on story, and while I missed having so much of my kind of humor wrapped up in the story, I actually enjoyed this book more than the first. I will say, though, that reading book one is absolutely necessary before starting book two. There is very little info dropping, and while it’s possible to enjoy book two without book one, that would be like eating the bologna without the bread. Fine for a snack, but not much of a meal.

I would have enjoyed North! Or Be Eaten more if I’d been able to wait until the series is finished. I don’t like having questions dangling about in my head, which is one of the reasons I rarely choose to pick up any books in a series until the whole series is available. Right now, I want to know why Gnag the Nameless chooses to use children for all of his labor. For experimenting, that makes sense- children are easier to mold and control. But for labor? That just doesn’t make sense, yet I can tell that it will. And that drives me up a wall.

I personally think this is a great YA fantasy. I’d place Andrew Peterson’s Wingfeather Saga somewhere between Donita K Paul’s Dragon Keeper Chronicles and Jeffrey Overstreet’s The Auralia Thread series. If you like either one, you’ll surely enjoy this. Just be prepared for some gross-out humor. You can tell this was written with young boys in mind.

To purchase this book, you can visit Random House and search, or go straight to the North! Or Be Eaten’s page. Available August 18, 2009.