Shopping

My $1.00 box from Midnight Box arrived today!

Well, actually is was a midnght envelope and not a box at all.
It rattled a little and I was worried if something had gotten broken in there.


Here is what I got.

A popsicle maker thingy, a tiny radio and a teeny weeny flashlight

Rhett was really hoping for a real box though, sorry buddy

Update: the little radio not does not work....*pout*
I posted my pics on the MB message boards and someone
was disappointed they did not get a kitty in their
mystery box/envelope....too funny!

Voting....

Well I am off to the polls.
It took me about an half an hour to find out where to vote.
They are complaining on the radio about the low turn out, but gosh there aren't very many polling places available. Mine is about 10 miles away. I can see why so many do not bother.


Update: The book for my precinct was pretty big yet I only saw a handful of signatures as she turned to my page. I really thought Prop 2 was going to be a big draw....Go figure.

In the news....

Yet another reason for using the "hover" method in public restrooms.


Man glued to toilet seat, sues store






Update: Has he tried this before?

Rafe says......

Guess what?

The Carnival of Cats is hosted this week at
Pages Turned. Go check it out!

Real Estate School

I am finding my 40 something year old brain is having a hard time retaining the necessary data to pass this all important test I have coming up. My college age child suggested flash cards, so Rhett and I are busily trying out this method.

Rhett says: Can you name the 7 sources of Texas Real Estate Law, Mommy?

Struck me funny...

Have YOU seen this man??









Not funny that he is missing but funny that......

Three days after convicted murder Charles Thompson escaped from his jail cell in downtown Houston.....reporters continue to ask residents to keep an eye out for him and warn not to try and apprehend him themselves
.
People, do you really think this dude is just wandering around Houston streets?
If he had help getting clothes and an ID, I'm sure he also had a ride to whisk him out of town.

I mean...Really!

Update: Thompson was apprehended Sunday in Shreveport, LA.
Guess he didn't run far enough.

On the Island....

Galveston Island is rumbling!
Island streets are packed with bikers, vendors, news crews......and wannabees.
It must be time for the 3rd annual Lone Star Ralley.

Shopping

Midnight Box is once again featuring a $1.00 mystery box.
(plus $5.00 shipping of course)
They claim the box could have up to a $999.00 value so I thought I would give it another try.



Strangely, rival site WOOT is offering something they call Random Crap also for $1.00.
Sadly, Woot has sold out today or I would have purchased one of those as well and
compared my prizes.

I guess the early birds got the worms today.

Update: Midnight Box has sold out!

The Apprentice....

Week Seven finds our dwindling teams awaiting word from the board room. Alla and Felicia are cuddling on the couch like little girls and declare that at midnight they will decide no-one is returning....ya think?


The next morning The Donald confirms their fears and invites Excel to take a member of Capital Edge over to help even out the teams again. They quickly choose the popular Randal and are off to the next task. The teams are sent to The Learning Annex and are instructed to plan and present a new class. The students will rate the class and the team with the highest ratings will be the winner.

Adam steps up to be project manager at Capital Edge. He is ready to lead, he has watched the players and knows their strengths and weakness, he says. Markus as usual becomes an immediate distraction to the rest of the team during the brain storming session. Adam takes Markus aside and tries to explain the issues the team is having with him.
"Don't put a leash on me" Markus whines...Hey Adam....how about a noose instead?
Finally the team decides to go with a Sex in the Workplace theme, though Adam is clearly very nervous and embarrassed by the subject.....ummm who is the PM?

Over at Excel, PM Randal chooses a topic he calls "Standing Out".
Rebecca is concerned that it is not exciting enough....Ok she said..."We're Screwed"

The task:
Excel's class seems to be going well.
Clearly Randal is an excellent speaker. There was a lot of interaction with the students and they all appear to be having a good time. Marshawn took some time at the mic too. They made a great team.

Capital Edge is in the classroom as well.
It is a disaster in there.
They have not planned a structured classroom experience.
With no scripts to follow, it is a free for all and Clay is the star.
The rest of the team is obviously uncomfortable with Clay's remarks about being gay.
Adam's obvious reaction of disgust after Clay refers to him as a"shy, tight Jewish boy" leaves the students uncomfortable too.

In the boardroom:
Excell is a clear winner.
Carolyn read some of the comment cards from Capital Edge's sex class and they were rather harsh. Excel is sent off for a shopping trip and personal styling session at the famous Michael Kors studio.
(Wow)

Back in the Boardroom:
After a brief discussion of "what went wrong"..Adam, Markus, and Clay are invited back to the boardroom where someone will be fired. Adam is still offended by the Jewish remark Clay had made on stage but admits to Trump that he does not think Clay is anti-Semitic.
Markus still cannot put two words together without it turning it into 20 and Trump realizes that he could never have someone like that in his employ. Even though Markus himself did not make or break the task, Trump says......Markus-- your fired.
No surprise to me at least that Markus did not leave quietly.
He was railroaded, Markus surmised.
Yeah....Whatever dude.

About Markus:
How did this guy get past the pre-interview process?
If ABC brought him in for some comedic relief, he did provide that.
I'll kinda miss the guy myself.

bu-bye Markus

The Apprentice on Yahoo TV includes deleted scenes from each episode.
Randal is the favorite at both Eye of Polyphemus and HeavyMinds
and...
Sage wonders if Markus was "on something"..hehe.....didn't we all?

Friday Cat Blogging

Some of you may have heard the big news.
Rhett caught his very first mousie!

Aside from stalking live prey,
our little hunter also protects his family from common household items.

This is (I mean was) one of those little soft scrunchy shower thingys.







Rhett says....MINE!

See more blogging pets at the Friday Ark

The Apprentice

Vote for your favorite Star Wars Clip here.

On the Island....

A new baby penguin conceived during Hurricane Rita was hatched at Moody Gardens.
The hatchling will me named Rita or Cane after they find out the sex of the new baby.
How cute is this little birdy!

Happy Halloween

Some pics of our little ghouls, I mean girls


Kelsey

Gelsey



Sydney



and baby Lezley

Struck me funny...

Passing by the TV
I heard the announcer say

ABC World News Tonight
sponsored by.....
Waste Management

*snicker*

Eek a Mouse!!!

I noticed Rhett was staring intently at the patio door and wondered what could be so darn interesting out there when I saw the mouse.

Eeek!! I hate those little monsters.
It only took a second for me to realize this little monster was on the INSIDE of the patio door.
It was a BIG mouse, maybe it is even a small rat ...Eeek!

Get it Rhett!!--- I said running away and up the stairs.
I called John and he laughed and said let the cat earn his keep.
No sympathy here.
Well, unsure what to do next, I just went for a walk and let the mighty hunter do his thing.

I returned about 45 minutes later, came in upstairs and started to creep slowly down the staircase worried about what I may find down below.
Rightway, Rhett came running up to me proudly clutching his prey in his mouth...yuck!
Here Meowmy....I got somefang fur ya!

I was relieved (though completely grossed out)
but then....
He dropped the mouse and it started to run off.
Oh, no no no no...This is so not acceptable....I though it was dead!

Well, clearly it wasn't running too well and Rhett caught it again and started batting it around.
Rafe in the meantime was just sitting and watching.
He could care less if he had a turn with the Rhett's prize toy.

I grabbed the camera and took a pic, because I didn't think John would believe
it was a such BIG MOUSE (or maybe even a small rat)....ewww.

Finally I decided to scoop it up with an old towel into a garbage bag.
Rhett saw me coming and, realizing what my plans were, took off with it.

"Good boy" ---I say calmly and lovingly--- "give Mommie the mousie now".
He dropped it for a moment and I scooped it up, but I was so grossed out I missed the bag. Rhett snatched it yet again and trotted off behind the computer desk where I cannot reach him.

Well, by now I have decided the poor little mousie had suffered enough.
I chased Rhett out from desk area and grabbed the mouse up one last and successful time.
Rhett was not happy with me, sorry buddy.

I felt bad throwing it out in a bag like that, but it did seem less cruel than letting the cat continue his torturous ways.

I sure hope this is a one time thing.
John is picking up some kitty safe traps on the way home today.

The photo is here, I didn't want to gross anyone out by posting it.

So, how was YOUR day....:)

The Apprentice

Just for fun, a couple more sites belonging to the candidates.



Josh's GoSmile business site looks pretty good, except you can't buy online.
and....
Clay mentions the show on his Real Estate site.

Rafe says.......

This week's Carnival of Cats is hosted at Watermark.
They have a really cool halloween theme.

Rhett says.....I got a rock

Happy Howl-o-Ween

On the canal.....

This pretty birdy was on my neighbors dock.
He stayed in that same position for a very long time.
For a moment I was unsure if he was real or a decoration.

Friday Cat Blogging

Rhett wanted to snuggle,
but for some reason Rafe snapped at him and chased him off.
Not the type of kitty to give up easily,
he later snuck back up onto the futon to be near his grouchy brother.


(click for full size)

The Boyz have their very own Halloween Page
and to see even more blogging pets visit this weeks Friday Ark

The Apprentice

Episode 6 begins with the teams being instructed to pre-select a project manager and meet in the board room.
Everyone is seated and waiting for The Donald to enter through his special door. Carolyn explains that "She" is in charge today....Cool.
Each Project Manager is allowed to send 3 losers to the other side, and now the teams are not boys and girls anymore.

The task is to host a sports day at a Dick's Sporting Goods location.
Sounds easy enough.

Capital Edge went with PM Alla (my projected winner) and chose to host a "Family Golf Day", even though none of them actually play golf.
They decide to set up a little PuttPutt type area for the kids to play in the hopes they can grab the grownups attention long enough to sell some products.
Clay quickly became a thorn in Alla's side.
She said she felt like she was having to be Clay's mother rather than his boss.
Maybe she should have given him a Time-Out...haha.

Excel was lead by Josh.
At James' suggestion they decided to go with baseball and constructed a batting cage for kids to hit some balls.
The boys were excited about the huge baseball diamond that was constructed in the store, but Marshawn and Rebecca were concerned that there was no room for product placement.

The day of the task:

At first glance, Excel's baseball day appears to be very successful.
There is a long line of kiddo's waiting to take batting practice.
But
No-one is buying anything!
Jennifer, the self appointed Beauty Queen of Sales is selling pretzels instead of radar guns.
This can't be good.

On the other side of town, Capital Edge is in full swing.
The customers seem to be enjoying the event.
The team is working together and those cash registers are ringing sales.

In the board room:

Carolyn gets Trump on speaker phone to give the team's results.
Capital Edge boosted sales by an amazing 74%.
Bill reports that Excel did not do so well.
If fact sales in their department actually dropped by 34%.
Oops!

Mark and Josh quietly decide to throw James and Jennifer under the bus.
I guess they didn't see Jenn fighting for her life last week, good luck with that, guys.

In the board room part 2:

As Team Capital Edge is enjoying their reward of a deep sea fishing trip, Excell is dragging suitcases and preparing to meet the wrath of Donald Trump.
The Donald enters through the special door.
He reminds the team that they have just experienced the biggest defeat of all time.
Trump then calmly asks the team why they failed which sends Jennifer and Josh into a frenzy of a screaming match.
The team agrees that Marshawn and Rebecca did the best they could selling product in the limited area they were given and are sent back up to the suite with the *damn lucky to be exempt* Brian.
The rest of the team is ordered back to the boardroom where someone will be fired.

The boardroom part 3:

Josh, James, Jennifer and Mark are sitting across from Trump.
Even before Jenn can finish her having her melt down, Donald says.
Your all fired....Go home.....Go home.
The visibly stunned quartet drag their bags out to the street where they are put in a taxi.
Fans are left wondering if the season will now be 3 weeks shorter.

Read Bren's Yahoo Blog

The Apprentice

Before I get into this weeks episode, I found the funniest thing.
Kendra Todd's (Season 3 winner) personal web-site.
http://www.kendratodd.net/
The flash intro and music is so tacky that I really expected to see porn in there.
Instead, the site features photo after photo, glamour shot style and pretty much zero substance.

What was she thinking?

Astros

You can blame MLB for making the 'Stros leave the roof to Minute Maid open.

You can blame Phil Garner for bad management.

You can blame individual players.
(a few come to mind)

You can blame the officials for bad calls.

You can blame Fox and the rest of the press for one sided commentary and opinion.


You can blame the team in general for losing heart, but then you need to blame the fans that were crying in their beer instead of cheering for that ONE good hit that could have saved us.

I mean you could blame just about anyone or anything.
OR
You could just be happy with the fact the Astros finally got to play in a World Series.

Yeah, Right

Rhett says:
I'm taking my ball and going home!

Go Astros!

I gave up and fell out in the 13th, but it is just as well.
What the Good Guys lack in winning, they seem to make up for with drama.
I thought I would look around the net this morning and see how others are dealing.
I really do not have thought of my own today.

Rafe says....
que sera sera



Laurence Simon again asks readers to vote for Least Valuable Player
H A W S P I P E tackles the "no black players" issue
Mad Oilman has a theory
Meredith has some late night ramblings
I enjoyed reading John Bigenwald's random thoughts
and....
Alan thinks the Sox are getting some breaks

Go Astros!

They are getting Minute Maid Park all spruced up for the big series.
There seems to be some controversy whether the roof will be opened or closed.
MLB has an opinion as do the fans.
I think the players like it closed and that's good enough for me.
Not that my opinion counts for anything.

BTW: Some lucky fans were chosen by a last chance drawing to buy tickets to this weeks games.
unfortunately I was not chosen.


Update: Still no word on MLB decision on the roof at Minute Maid.
Sam Malone devoted his entire radio show this morning to the subject.
Pretty much every caller resented MLB telling us what to do in our City.
Astro fans want what they want.....you know?

Udate 2: It's open....if you are lucky enough to be there....yell LOUD!

At the movies....

The Great Broadway show The Producers is being remade in movie form.
I'm really looking forward to it after having seen it in NYC.

I never saw the 1968 version, I will have to rent that one.

Go Astros!

A lot of fans are live blogging and I do not plan to do so but I have a few observations.


1. Lou Rawls is way too important to be singing in the rain with no umbrella
2. That blonde on Fox gets on my nerves
3. It looks cold up there, I'll bet the Good Guys will be happy to get home to Texas
4. It must be windy too, because that blonde's hair is blowing even with all that hairspray
5. Ausmus looks hot in that beard
6. The Texans suck....oh sorry, that is whole 'nother post.

Postgame: Wahhh...that did not just happen again!

Baby Rhett says....

Hurry over the Carnival of Cats,
hosted this week at Mind of Mog

Go Astros!

It's only game one, right?
The Good Guys will pull it out tonight, right?
They are just getting warmed up, right?
Go 'Stros!



Laurence Simon asks readers to vote on LVP.
I would like to vote on which player should keep the beard.
My pick is Brad Ausmus...*sigh*

Shopping.....

John needed some stuff at Lowe's to fix our poor little crappy lawnmower.
I offered to tag along, hoping the Christmas Stuff was out and it is.

*happy dance*

They had these huge blow up globes, the snow flies around in there.
Our yard is too small and the price is too big, but they were cool to see.

We went to Sam's Club after and they were 50 dollars cheaper, though.

Last year I wanted this outdoor lighted palm tree and John said, no we don't need it.
Well, no being not acceptable I went back by myself to get it and they were sold out.
This year, the trees were there again and John said...Just get one so you won't bitch about me not getting one last year.

I also picked up some candles and stuff.
HO HO HO!

Go Astros!

There has been some talk around town whether or not the Good Guys should keep those funky looking Play-Off beards they are sporting throughout the World Series.

Now...I can't believe anyone would even consider having our 'Stros change anything they have been doing up til this point.

Go Astros!

We are Soxless in Houston!

Go 'STROs!!

Go Astros!

There is a major Pep Rally going on downtown this morning.
I'd love to be there.
Mayor White declares a No Socks (Sox) weekend.
Herb Taylor of the Galveston Daily News remembers the Colt .45s.
and even Dallas has gotten Astro's Fever.
I love it!

Friday Cat Blogging

I was going through some old photo files and came across The Boyz baby pics

Baby Rafe...then


and now



Baby Rhett....then


And now


best buddies...then


and now



Visit the Friday Ark

The Apprentice

Week five finds the Blonde Brigade regrouping.
Marshawn ( I like her) tells the blondes, the bickering must end.
The Boys Club are patting themselves on the back....again.

This week's task is to create a parade float for a movie that nobody can seem to pronounce the name of.
The girls are offered someone from the other team to help round out the numbers.
They quickly snag Randall.

The boys seem to have a real edge (pun intended), getting to play with power tools and all.
Project manager Brian quickly gets annoyed with Markus, as does Josh and the rest of the team.

Beauty Queen Blonde Jennifer is PM of the girls plus Randall team.
If the boys think Markus is a pain in the ass, they should have to deal with Kristi.
Allah (my projected winner) is upset when Jen zips off to go shopping 45 minutes before the presentation.

The presentation:
Brian talks too much, I think these guys did not want to be compared to "Jumanji" but at least Brian pronounces the name of the movie correctly.
Poor Jen, says the name wrong, not once...many times....the execs are laughing.
Bill and Carolyn are laughing too, Jen is cute but clueless.
Allah: "the presentation was a disaster"

Trump heads off to meet with the Sony Executives:
Excell yet again is the winner hands down.
Brian gets the exemption.
Capital Edge is sent to the boardroom while the boys are sent onto their reward, a chance to make a song in a recording studio.

In the boardroom:
Jen tries to throw Kristi under the bus.
Randall and Marshawn join in.
Kristi pulls out the trailor trash (I still say fake) accent and is invited back to the boardroom.

Back in the boardroom:
Jennifer must defend letting Kristi run over her.
It really looked like Jen was getting the boot, but
Trump: "Kristi you're fired"

Note to Apprentice Candidates:
If you find yourself saying Crap and Shut-up a lot, you might not be Trump material

Bu-Bye Kristi


Kristi: "Shut-up...I don't even want to hear it"

At the risk of this re-cap getting too long I would like to say how much I enjoy Carolyn speaking her mind more often in the boardroom this season. She is a real sharp cookie.

Bren's Yahoo blog
Sage Lewis thinks maybe Jen was blinded by her own beauty.
The Apprentice Views says fire Donald Trump
The Apprentice Blog explains why Kristi took the hit
Mike Barer renames the girls team

Real Estate School

I'm so annoyed.
2 of my certificates of class completion have my initials on them, and not my full name.
TREC (Texas Real Estate Commission) says they need to be remade.
No problem, I drove all the way to the north side of Houston with them to the main campus last Thursday.
They said the computer was down and they would mail them the next day.
They needed me to leave the originals....*ack*.
They were kinda rude, like it is MY fault they did not make them out correctly in the first place.
Well......
It's been a week now, and no certificates.
Now, these people never answer the phone....Leave a message...BLEEP.

I am giving them one more day to return my call, or have those papers in my mail box.
Don't make me drive the Beltway to come up there again, folks.

In the mean time, I am trying to devote a couple of hours a day to practice testing online and re-reading my text books and notes.
Today, is Texas Real Estate Contracts.

Rhett says.......BOR-ING!!

Shopping.....

Get your Astro's gear here
and root for the Good Guys!

Happy Birthday.....

Gabbie!!

Rafe says..

Go Astro's!!

Shopping

I went to the mall today.

I had a Bath and Body Works coupon burning a hole in my purse.
I love the products, but I hate how aggressive the sales people are in there.
I'm a big believer in providing good customer service, but those folks are really way over the top.
I've gotten to where I even hate to go in there.

I also took a look around some of my regular stores.
Soon I will have to give up my desperate housewife status and wanted to see what was new.

I am so not impressed with Express this fall.
I am even less impressed with The Limited.
Both stores have become over trendy as well as over priced.

On the other hand Casual Corner has updated their look and has become more stylish and less matronly. The good news is I loaded up on "going back to work soon" outfits at 40% off.
The bad news it the location I prefer is closing soon. I really hope it is just the one store and not the whole chain. That would really suck now that they are getting cute work clothes.

DSW Shoe Warehouse is across the street from the mall.
I have no comments about the fall line at the risk of incriminating myself.
*grin*