Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day! Hope your day is simple and sweet just like this flower...

Fly Fishing

Another sultry day, feels more like August than May.

He's got the right idea...



Maybe I'll go for my fishing license today.

Possible Facebook Groups I

I was having some fun yesterday on the ultimate time-waster Fakebook, I mean Facebook, going back and forth with a friend about a group called, "Say No to Spandex." I was actually going to start a group named something like that after almost being knocked down, again, by a biker in lycra as I walked along the greenway in Salem. When I saw there was already a group I just hopped on, even though there's no "action." While I was chatting with my FB buddy I mentioned I should start a group called, "Where I grew up if we saw a guy wearing spandex, we'd pull him off the bike and beat the crap outta him!" My FB buddy responded I'd better be careful or he might hit me with his purse. Haha! Ok, calm down, we're just joking.

Since I have a mental problem and do most of my bizarre thinking in the middle of the night when I should be sleeping, a bunch of different Facebook groups I think I'd like to see started parading past me...

"Stop being so smug...you're riding a freaking bicycle!"

"Yeah, I know I'm overweight, but I still look better than you!"

"Why are you so freaking angry?...your candidate won!"

"Raising your voice does not make you right!"

"Stop answering my questions with a question!"

"Wipe that phony smile off your face before I do!"

"You lied to me, I will never take you seriously!"

"Would you mind taking the knife outta my back without twisting it?"

"The first time I saw you I immediately disliked you, now I hate you!"

"Why can't my city have a decent daily newspaper?"

"Why do newscasters giggle? It does not make them more likable!"

"When I hear (insert a name, the first one that comes to my mind is...) Obama's voice come on tv I must change the channel!"

"You call that art? I call that crap!"

"You're a teacher? Really? A teacher?"

"You have no money to feed your kid, but enough of it to get beer, cigarettes and tattoos!"

"Now that you have tattoos on your face, neck, arms and hands, what job are you applying for?"

"Don't you think you should move out of the one-room welfare hotel before having another kid?"

"Getting a tan does not make Jersey girls prettier!"

"Speak English, I don't understand (insert whatever, I'll go with...) redneck!"

"Why do you say "bless her heart" when you don't even mean it?"

"Who the hell taught you how to drive?!"

"Merge does not mean stop!"

"Yellow does not mean stop short!"

"You're not better than anyone, so get over yourself!"

"Shoot me now...my husband has taken to wearing red suspenders!"

Those were just a couple that came to mind...I'm sure they'll be more. I hope no one gets offended but if they do here's a group for you...

"Lighten up! Not every thing's about you!"

Azaleas

It was nice to meet a friend on Friday for a walk along the Roanoke river (beautiful as usual) followed by a tasty lunch downtown at Wasabi's (Sumo Roll still rules) then a stroll to the Strawberry Festival (overrated unless you're a huge fan of strawberries I guess) onto getting ripped off by downtown parking lot fees ($5.00 for a minute over two hours is way too much for lunch) and topped off with a nerve-wracking ride in an about to over-heat car up Chestnut Mountain to take pictures at Happy Hollow Gardens.





Happy Hollow has always been known for its amazing azaleas. This year, they weren't too amazing. Maybe I waited too long and they had already peaked. I thought I actually had at least another weekend since my azaleas were still pretty brilliant and Happy Hollow's elevation is much higher, but apparently not. However, this orange azalea is a pretty rare sight...



Luckily I made it back down the mountain by cruising so the car didn't overheat until I pulled into my carport. This is the view from my driveway. If I'm looking for that azalea shot I think I'll stick closer to home next time...

No Prom, Yes Job!

So this weekend is my son's high school prom. And, no, he will not be attending. He actually was asked. Yes, he was asked, he didn't do the asking, on Facebook of all places, but he ignored the request. "I've never even met the girl in person." And he never wanted to meet her in person either, no matter how many times I asked him if he was sure. "Mom, she's posing with Mickey Mouse as her picture." Clearly he wasn't interested.

Well, there's always the after-prom. He wouldn't have to waste all that money on a tux, limo, dinner and date with someone he never met in person, as he could go stag. "Mom, why would I want to go to that? It doesn't start until midnight and it ends at 4:00am. I have an AP test Monday morning at 7:00am, so uh, no." He is so logical. Truth be told I didn't go to my prom either. And, no, I never regretted it. I doubt he will either.

The boy has always been responsible, and he showed me yesterday just how responsible he really is by getting a job, a real paying, part time job! His first job, and today he takes his first drug test. I have no worries about him passing that test -- at least I think I have no worries. He told his new employer that he couldn't start until after next Wednesday because he has AP tests up until then. Thankfully he still he realizes his education is important. After he aced the job interview he went right down to VWCC and took the placement test (I guess his 1910 SAT score wasn't high enough) and dropped off the application for a scholarship, which he had just found out needed to get in their hands by today. The 500 word essay was written during his lunch period so I'm not banking on that money. He also asked two teacher for letters of recommendation so he could join the honor society which he qualifies for. His plan of action is to attend VWCC for two years and then transfer over to either VT, JMU or W&M. Although he intends to major in computer science, with a minor in mathematics, lately he's been expressing interest in law. My son the senator...hmmmmm, I like the way that sounds.

I don't care what he majors in as long as he goes to college. I don't want him to end up like me, not that I'm a slacker or anything. It's just that I got my first job at 15. By the time I graduated high school I was making so much money I poo-poohed college..."Who the hell needs a degree???" I didn't. I did just fine without one and made plenty of money, and went as far as possible with prestigious titles, but I don't want my kids to fall into the same money trap.

I keep telling him it's only four more years, and then he sighs...very loudly.

This Is Not A Paid Endorsement

Have you noticed lately how many blogs have been "raving" about a product, highly recommending it, posting a link to it and then revealing at the end of the post that they are being paid to do it? I have and I gotta tell ya, I'm not liking it. I don't mind the ad here or there when I know it's an ad, but I feel like I'm duped when I devote my minutes reading a post from someone I regularly read only to find out at the end that it was a paid endorsement. Note to bloggers who participate in this practice - Please, please, please put a disclaimer at the beginning of the post, not at the end!

I've gotten quite of few requests myself from myriad of products, many of which I've never heard of. Usually in exchange for writing a glowing review or providing a link I will get said product "free." I have yet to endorse anything for money. My feeling is if I like your stuff I'd probably let the world know for free when/if I wanted to. If you're a reader of this blog you know that sword has two edges -- if I don't like your book, your software, your restaurant, your whatever, I'm gonna let the world know that too. I wonder what happens if the blogger does give a negative review to one of the products or services they are asked to review. Do they still get paid or get the free product? Have you ever read a negative post from someone who was paid to review? I don't think I have.

On my last blog I had some ads. I signed up for the Adsense. The only thing that did was clutter my blog. I never made one penny from it. Supposedly there was a tiny balance but I never received a check. Frankly, I wouldn't do it again. Obviously I don't have enough readers who are stupid enough to click on the ads to warrant them taking the space up on my blog. On this blog I have one "ad" under the "sponsored by" heading which is for my own auto repair business and which I don't even get paid for it. Hmmmm, maybe I should charge myself a monthly fee! Actually I probably wouldn't turn away any advertiser that wanted to pay me to go under the "sponsored by" banner. So is that hypocritical? I don't think so. Most readers are well aware what "sponsored by" means. It's their choice to click on the link or just ignore it.

For the record, I don't begrudge any blogger making some money off of ads, but I just wish they would be more upfront when their actual posts are designed only for that purpose.

Dogwoods

Yes, even though we awoke to 38 degrees this morning, it is still spring and I'm loving this weather. It'll be too hot soon enough. Last week the cherry trees saw the last of their flowers fall. This week it was the dogwoods, my favorite flowering tree. I captured these shots before all the flowers fell off and stuck to my patio...









See you in the fall with your glorious red leaves and berries.