Archive for August, 2009

Spitting Image

Thursday, August 27th, 2009

 

Long-time morsel readers (which is like what… a little over a year?) and close friends know that my best friend since college is Yessica (some call her Jessica or even Jess, but they are fools).

llamas

We’ve had many adventures together, but one of our favorites was in Oklahoma City. I don’t even remember what took us there in the first place, but we found out that there was an antique show on the fair grounds that we decided to go check out. Venturing down to the fair grounds we figured we’d have no trouble finding this event. We foolishly forgot that this was the state fairgrounds that might as well have its own zip code.

So building after building we searched for our antique show. We eventually found it, but not before we stumbled across a hidden treasure that would change us forever… a llama show!! That’s right - just like a dog show, but taller, woollier and with longer necks. Obviously, we had no choice but to stay and watch these spellbinding creatures. Llamas bobbing and weaving, jumping over hurdles - vendors with buttons that say, “Spit happens.” From then on, I knew what Dorothy must have felt like landing in Oz. Actually, the only thing that could have made it better is if a whole group of people with dwarfism in colorful costumes would have come out to sing for us (but this would have made me fall down, weeping with overwhelming joy… and I might have been trampled by well trained llamas).

Ever since that time, Yessica and I have had a fascination with llamas. It’s even our pet name for each other (’cause llamas do make the best pets). So when Andrew brought this amazingly fun new site to my attention, you can just imagine my giddiness. It’s a llama. Telling you what to do. In the most hilarious of manners. Enjoy!

Being Progressive

Sunday, August 23rd, 2009

“Don’t be offended by this, but… ” is just another way of saying, “I’m about to offend you, and I’d like to not take the blame for it so I’m telling you how to react.” So the other day when I got the, “Don’t be offended by this, but… ” from the father of a friend of mine, I braced myself.

Don’t be offended by this, but… every time I see the girl in those Progressive commercials I think of you.

He had to explain to me that she was the cashier in the mostly white Progressive stores.

I stood there wondering where this landed on the offensive scale. I decided that it had to have been significantly lower than the Shamwow guy. If I’m wrong, please don’t tell me.

I didn’t think way too much about it, but then I got a call a couple of nights later from my childhood best friend. The sole purpose of the call was to tell me that I reminded him of Flo, the girl from the Progressive ads. No connection between the two that pointed this out, so I’m pretty confident there is not a “Janelle looks like Flo” conspiracy going on (or is there? Perhaps another caller on the grassy knoll).

Birthday

Thursday, August 20th, 2009

Today is Brandon’s birthday, which means between now and my birthday, it’ll seem like we’re only 6 years apart. I feel like this cougar got her claws trimmed (meow).

So happiest of birthdays to my love!

Pamphlet Gem 2

Wednesday, August 19th, 2009

Another day, another gem. As if talking with your kids about sex isn’t hard enough, there are actually tools out there that can turn the awkward knob up to 11! Today in the treasure chest of pamphlets, we find this:

when-the-choices-are-confusing

I took the liberty of pulling some quotes so you, too, could experience the uneasiness that is the sex pamphlet for teens.

Quote 1

Some people think of sex as being like an amusement park - you begin with the kiddie rides, move up to more thrilling ones, and the fun never stops.

Let me make this clear before you end up on To Catch a Predator - Do not start with the kiddie rides!! I repeat, do not start with the kiddie rides!! We have laws in this country that strictly prohibit that.

Quote 2

In many ways, sex is like fire. It can both sustain life and wreck it. It can produce joy-giving warmth, and it can cause terrible pain.

And like fire, it can also cause a burning sensation if you’re not careful.

Quote 3

This doesn’t mean you’re sexually and emotionally unequipped for real life. It doesn’t mean the Sexual Fulfillment Express is already five miles down the track and you’re still standing in the station wondering if you have the right ticket or any ticket at all.

I think we’ve just discovered the key to Amtrak’s lack of revenue issues. No need to ask congress for $1 billion every year. Shoot, some of them might even want to buy a ticket or two (a day).

Quote 4

You might need to tap other resources besides friends your own age, who may be as temporarily unsettled as you are.

If your other resource is the neighbor lady, do not tell your parents that you’d like to tap that. See Quote 1 for further explanation.

Pamphlet Gem 1

Monday, August 17th, 2009

Today I worked in the Congregational Care department at the church. They do a splendid job of providing care and counseling to our 15,000 plus members. I honestly don’t know how they do it. I have a limited amount of caring and I try to use it sparingly. A couple of weeks ago I went to lunch with my friend, Gant. I decided to pick up the tab.

Gant: Wait - are you paying?

Me: Yeah, it’s not that big of a deal.

Gant: No, I don’t like this. It scares me. I want the sarcastic Janelle that talks back to me. I don’t know what to do with nice Janelle.

(Back to the church) Just outside the doors to the Congregational Care offices is a rack full of pamphlets that have all sorts of information on what to do in moments of crisis - such as if you lose a spouse or encounter money troubles. They’ve all got the standard, calming pictures of things like flowers, trees, clouds, etc. - all but one. Among the nature scenes is this:

guide-for-elves

So for all of you elves out there, we are prepared to help! I do have a couple of things that I need to bring up with you - person to mythical creature. 1. Why is grandpa in a lawn chair? Is it possible you care less than I do? 2. As Andrew pointed out to me - Why, for the love of Keebler, do you think it’s a good idea to be wearing your candle hat when grandpa is on oxygen?!!! Apparently cancer isn’t speedy enough for you? And where do you get candle hats anyway? And do they come in pumpkin spice?

So humans, if you have elven friends in need of care, they might be interested in Elf-Help books (I only wish I made that up). If you have elven friends that don’t need care, send them and their little, flaming hats my way. I would love to not care about elves!

Super Sweet!

Wednesday, August 12th, 2009

This morning in the office-

Me: Good morning! How are you?

Co-worker: Well, I was doing alright, but my favorite conservation organization was recently shut down.

Me: Oh really? Which one?

Co-worker: Using half-packets of sweetener.

That’s right - I bring you good news of great joy! The half packet perpetrator has been caught! I informed last year’s culprit (I hate to use her name, but I will. It was Debi Nixon) that the most recent mystery has been solved.

When this new information came to light, I suggested that she might find a common time and meeting place with this latest user to share an individual Sweet’n Low. She then confessed to me that since being caught last year, she has gone to using an entire pack in each of her two cups - she’s up to two packs a day.

Over The Rhine

Sunday, August 9th, 2009

You only think you know me if you don’t know that my favorite band is Over the Rhine. I realize that this new awareness comes as a shock to some of you. I’m sorry. I’m just not that into you.

If you’ve never seen this band live, then I feel for you. I really do. Their songs are lyrically and musically magical, and their sincere, quirky, fun-loving personalities woven into every show put you into a trance of bliss.

Don’t believe me? Let the trance begin!

and once you’ve recovered, take this:

Those are two minuscule morsels of what you get when you actually see them. The good news is that they are touring right now. And if you’re in Kansas City, they will be here a week from Tuesday (the 18th - buy your tickets here). It’s safe to say that I will be busy that night and will not be answering my phone. I don’t care if it’s an emergency! I don’t care if you’re going to the hospital!… unless you’re going because you just found out you have a vanishing twin that needs to be removed. Perhaps I’ll consider it, but I better darn well get to touch it.

The Other Half - Part 2

Thursday, August 6th, 2009

As you know, I’ve been quite consumed with this whole half packet debacle in the break room at work, and I feel a new personal ambition to discover the lower than Sweet’n Low culprit. I assume that it’s only a matter of time before I resort to hiring a semi-sweet coffee drinking, undercover detective or using surveillance, but I figured that I would give Madam or Sir Save A Lot a chance to see their wayward ways and learn to enjoy the pleasure of using entire packets at a time. I left the evidence with this sign:

the-other-half

So far, the only responses are “Ants” (which I imagine is a commentary and not a confession by highly developed insects) and a “Not me. Not since Janelle pointed this out last year” left by the perpetrator of 2008. I’ll be sure to keep you informed as the case of the half packet racket unfolds.

The Other Half - Part 1

Wednesday, August 5th, 2009

Long time morsel readers might recall that over a year ago, I brought to your attention the state of the economy by evidence of the half packet of Sweet’n Low found in the break room at work. I believed that the dire straits that we found ourselves in at the time were the darkest hours. My friends (and the rest of you), as much as this anguishes me - I am here to tell you that things are worse… far, far worse than we could have even imagined.

For not only did I find a half packet of Sweet’n Low in the break room…
sweetn-low

But a half packet of Papa John’s pepper flakes as well!!
half-pizza-topping

Why??? Why, God?? Why???!!!! Why has it come to this? Why must we conserve half our individual packets? Are we not even individuals any more? Are we half the people we once were?

If this news doesn’t frighten you, I don’t know what will. We must all find ways to work together if we are going to survive. I’m even considering asking our World Vision* sponsor child for a donation.

Dear Erem,
I hope and pray that what I am about to describe does not cause you endless, sleepless nights filled with vivid images of the deplorable conditions that I “live” in. But I feel that I must share this with you. If no one talks about it, the truth never gets out. Without truth, there is no hope.
There is no easy way of saying this - here in the United States, we must now share packets of Sweet’n Low and pepper flakes. I never dreamed it could get this bad, but I feel like the harsh reality is creeping up on us that we are only days away from plain, cheese pizza (large of, course) and black coffee… perhaps even Folgers.
Erem, you can make a difference. With your help, a latte can be saved. Please consider how far your money could go to flavor all that we consume. Won’t you help? If you don’t, who will?
Sincerely,
Janelle
p.s. I got the picture you drew for me of what you consider to be a bike. Are you kidding me? Who could ride that thing? The wheels aren’t even round! What is my money going towards? Certainly not art school!!!

Even now as I write this, I feel the promise of another day waning. Every minute marks another shred of confidence dissipating into the horizon. Can’t go on. Must have Sweet’n Low. The dark clouds of despair fall over me and my plain, cheese pizza. God help us all.

*World Vision is a wonderful organization, and if you find yourself fortunate enough to be able to afford entire packets of pepper flakes please consider sponsoring a child.

Surveying The Situation

Monday, August 3rd, 2009

I am sure the anticipation is just killing you, so let me relieve you by giving you an update on the bra hooking survey. I was confident that at least 80% of you would be front hookers (assuming that 10% were never shown the correct method, 5% are rebels and a 5% margin of error). So when I learned that 57%* of you are back hookers I was stunned! I mean seriously - I haven’t been this confused/bothered/lost since Harrison Ford got his ear pierced.

I have not given up, and I believe that front hookers will eventually triumph. My suspicion is that like some of you, this deck is stacked.

* Does not take into account the single free flying participant. You can congratulate Brandon on his life without restraints if you’d like.