This and That

February Top Entrecard Droppers are now located on my sidebar. Special thanks to these dedicated Top Droppers and thank you to everyone who visited my blog in February. Be sure to visit my Top Droppers they are some really great blogs.

I've been interviewed by BlogInterviewer.com. Click Blog Interviewer.com - Interview of Lola's Diner to check out the interview and be sure to vote for me!

You may have noticed the Comment Response Team Badge at the top of my posts. I'll be posting Positive Comments on many of the blogs I visit.
Will you join me?
As an added incentive for you to participate, I will be awarding Entrecard Credits to the top Commentors in the month of March.

Thank you!

Lola's Diner
©2008-2009

Marie Antoinette Award - Thank you!

"Courage! I have shown it for years; think you I shall lose it at the moment when my sufferings are to end?" - Marie Antoinette
This very courageous Marie Antoinette award was given to me by Liza @ Mommy's Little Corner. Thank you so much for this awesome award!

Queen Marie Antoinette, is the epitome of real, fun, fearless woman who is never afraid of getting what she wants. She became Queen of France and Navarre.

I'm sharing this with the following bloggers whom I admire in this blogosphere.
1. Anastasia @ Firecrotch Rocket
2. Jodie @ Jodi's Journey
3. Lynne @ Life After Work
4. Shauni @ Shauni Speaks
5. Maitri @ Maitri's Heart
6. Diana @ Diana Rambles
7. Michelle @ My Crazy Life With A Toddler
8. Caregiving Daughter
9. Happy Family
10. Davida @ Glue 4 Families

Lola's Diner
©2008-2009

Breast Feeding WHILE Driving

Ok, I'll admit it, I have pretty much been lurking, not really posting anything of substance the last few days. I'm a bit depressed. I'm literally counting the minutes until I get my monthly check next week. I hate when life happens and the money doesn't quite make it till the next check.

But then life throws me a funny and all is right with the world!

Have you seen this?

Dayton Mother Caught Breastfeeding And Driving. And not only was she Breast Feeding AND Driving, she was on a Cellphone!

What the hell was this woman thinking? She was driving her older children to school while breast feeding and talking on a cellphone. Wow! I've been busy before, but I guess never this busy. I've never attempted this triple threat before.

Three things come to mind:

1. Damn! That baby must have been hungry.
2. Damn! Mommie's anatomy must be quite unusual to accomodate breast feeding a child in a car seat while driving!
3. Damn! That cellphone call must have been really important!

Ok, I'm all good now!

Didn't this mother ever stop to think 'baby not in a car seat, not a good idea'? When I had my oldest I had a 2 door SUV. Ever try to heft a car seat into the back seat of a 2 door SUV? (When you're a plus size lady?) Ain't easy. Did I ever ONCE not buckle my babies in? Hell no! Even if I was driving to daycare less than 2 blocks away, my kids were always buckled in. Safety first!

Lola's Diner
©2008-2009

More Follower Goofiness

As many of you may have noticed the look of the "Follow" section on your blogs has changed. No biggy right?

Well, as I was dropping Entrecards I came upon a blog that I fancied and decided to click on the newfangled "Follower" button and became a Follower. No biggy again, right?

Then a bit later tonight I decided to go to my Blogger "Dashboard" and check out the new posts of the blogs I am following since I didn't have a chance earlier today. Guess what? There were no blogs there! The "Reader List Box" was completely empty. I let out a big WTH? And I mean a big one! My heart started to pound, my breath quickened. No, no, this can't be happening.

Then, my analytic/accounting brain stepped in and said, wait a minute, why not sign out of Blogger and then sign back in and see if they come back.

They did!

So, if you begin following a new blog and then later go back to your "Dashboard" and find your "Reader List Box" to be empty, simply sign out and sign back in.

Lola's Diner
©2008-2009

Internet Meet-up - Could be Fun!

In July 1999 I met in person 4 women whom I met online through a Mommy Chat group on Msn.com.

There were 5 of us who met up in person. A woman from Bridgeview, IL; a woman from Crestwood, IL; a woman from Florida; a woman who went by the name of Stormy from Canada and myself from Chicago.

As the date approached the excitement grew. We were all looking forward to our meet-up. The women in Crestwood and Bridgeview were kind of the official hostesses, planning events at their homes.

I volunteered to pick up Stormy from O'Hare Airport since I lived the closest. Having never picked anyone up at an airport before I was very nervous that I wouldn't find the right gate. Eventually I found it and met up with Stormy and drove her to the Hampton Inn in Crestwood, IL.

The women from Crestwood and Bridgeview had been getting together before the big meet-up, since they lived so close to each other. This was supposed to be kind of a girl’s weekend, with Sunday being family day with a BBQ in Bridgeview. I decided to get a room at the hotel for 2 nights and bring the family. I thought it was a great idea. I figured that way I wouldn't be spending a lot of time driving back and forth and the kids could swim in the hotel pool. Kind of a mini vacation, and, it was my birthday weekend! I think perhaps this made me the odd person out. I felt like the 5th wheel, like I didn't belong. I also got a weird, stand-offish vibe from one of the women that's kind of hard to describe. It could have been they were just weirded out by my bringing the family, even though I did not bring them to the house party Friday night. Or, it could have just been that these women were just very cliquish and I didn't fit in. It kind of reminded me of high school.

There is a blogger near me, Patricia, who is having a meet-up in April for Chicago area bloggers that I'm really excited about. Patricia has 2 blogs, Communication Exchange and Subjective Soup. I've said I will attend, but in the back of my mind I keep remembering this bad experience from my past. Even at this point with the date so far off, I'm waffling back and forth, should I attend or not attend? Having said that, I realize that I shouldn't let that bad experience color my expectations of this new opportunity to potentially meet some of the really great bloggers I've come to enjoy reading.

All of you bloggers from the Chicago area (and I know quite a few) stop by Patricia’s sites, Communication Exchange and Subjective Soup and check out her meet-up and if you can, sign up on one of her sites to attend and let me know if you will be attending. Be sure to tell Patricia you found out about her meet-up from Lola.

I'm also kind of embarrassed to say that I'm reminded of how not only myself, but how other people seem to have kind of a different personality online. I don’t think it’s intentional. I think it's just the nature of the internet. I think it’s kind of like the difference between the personality of your writing style and your "in person" personality. Does that make sense? With writing we always have the opportunity to edit, to use extra care in crafting our sentences and to have unlimited time before hitting the publish button.

Having been through the '99 experience and having done online dating I can say (for myself anyway) without a doubt that there is a kind of a disjoint between my writing style personality and my "in person" personality. Sometimes in dating I was able to overcome it, sometimes not. Even in dating I had some really bad experiences, but I didn't let that keep me from the opportunity to meet new people. Had I not continued to give online dating a chance, I would have never met Anastasia.

Think about how many blogs you visit regularly (blogs of people you've never met in person). Do you ever wonder what their personality is like in "real life"? Think about that humor blogger that you visit regularly. Are they really that funny in person? Are they as quick witted as they seem? That political blogger that you visit, are they really that articulate in person? The frazzled mommy blogger that you visit, are they really that frazzled or are they the completely organized PTA mom?

Have I got you thinking?

Have you met in person people you’ve met online? Have you met any bloggers in person? Did you find a disjoint, or did they seem to be exactly like their online persona? Please tell me your thoughts in the Comment Section. Inquiring minds want to know.

Lola's Diner
©2008-2009

Colonoscopy Sweepstakes - Yes, It's For Real!

I thought my insomnia was making me loopy. For the second early morning in a row I have seen this commercial:

I was thinking, they can't possibly be serious. But they are! Check out www.cbs.com/cbs_cares. A contest to win a Colonoscopy in New York. I don't know if you've had a Colonoscopy before, but I've had 3 so far. The first time I had several pre-cancerous polyps removed. I'm probably due for another. If you've had one, you know the er, ah, "preparation" part is not fun.

"This is an actual sweepstakes and, if you are the grand prize winner, we will fly you and a companion to New York where you will receive a free colonoscopy. You will also be given three nights' accommodation in a suite at the luxurious Loews Regency Hotel, which will include the night before you are "awarded" the colonoscopy."

So, according to the website you will get to stay in a luxurious suite. I hardly see the point of that considering you will only be seeing one room of that suite on your "preparation" night. You might as well stay at Motel 6 the first night and pocket the difference! In reality you'll likely be getting to enjoy only the 3rd night, since the 2nd night you will likely be very uncomfortable due to all the er, ah excess air. If you win, it will be free pass to pass gas in New York! (Oh I'm so sorry, I haven't had any sleep and my puns are bad.)

All joking aside, a Colonoscopy is very important for detecting cancer early. I've submitted my entry, have you?

Lola's Diner
©2008-2009

What Are Your Fat Tuesday Plans?

Being that frugalness (is that a word, cause spell check is underlining it?) has us eating at home all the time I like an excuse to change things up. Since we can't go to New Orleans, New Orleans is coming to us.

I stopped at the store yesterday to get a treat for breakfast (Raspberry Paczki's) and the rest of the ingredients I needed for dinner. Chicken and Okra Gumbo. Recipe and photo courtesy of Taste of Home.
Our son wanted to know if we are going to do anything else for Fat Tuesday/Mardi Gras. I asked him what he meant. He wanted to know if we were going to get beads. Anastasia and I looked at each other, exchanged smirks and we both said no. Lol!

Review:
I used Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts to make it easier and a small can of Chicken Broth since cooking the chicken didn't really yield a broth. I also used only 2 onions and that was plenty. Next time only 1/2 a large green pepper, as it was a little too much. We were 3 for dinner tonight and all 3 of us really liked it. The kids kept asking where the shrimp was. My son upped the hot sauce to at least double the recipe amount. I liked it, but it may be a bit to spicy for Anastasia.
What are you doing to celebrate Fat Tuesday?

Lola's Diner
©2008-2009

My Fourth Conversation 10 Month - 10 Lives Challenge

Some of you may recall my previous posts on the 10 Month - 10 Lives Challenge.
Join The Impact says “Join us in a challenge over the next 10 months that will make an IMPACT. 10 months - 10 lives changed. Everyone in this movement must help keep the conversation going.

"We are asking each and every one of you to engage in 10 conversations with someone who does not understand our struggle and help them to see our point of view. We are not asking that you try to infringe on or disrespect their beliefs. Change can not occur with insult, it will only occur with respect. If all of us work hard to positively affect 10 lives, we can change this entire nation!"

If you missed my original posts, be sure to click on each to view them:
My 1st Conversation 10 Months - 10 Lives Challenge
My 2nd Conversation 10 Months - 10 Lives Challenge.
My 3rd Conversation 10 Months - 10 Lives Challenge

It's time for my Fourth Conversation of the 10 Month - 10 Lives Challenge.

Dustin Lance Black's Oscar Acceptance Speech for Original Screenplay for his work on MILK:
"I wanna thank my mom, who has always loved me for who I am even when there was pressure not to. But most of all, if Harvey had not been taken from us 30 years ago, I think he'd want me to say to all of the gay and lesbian kids out there tonight who have been told that they are less than by their churches, by the government or by their families, that you are beautiful, wonderful creatures of value and that no matter what anyone tells you, God does love you and that very soon, I promise you, you will have equal rights federally, across this great nation of ours."

Sean Penn's Oscar Acceptance Speech for Best Actor for his work on MILK:
"For those who saw the signs of hatred as our cars drove in tonight I think that it is a good time for those who voted for the ban against gay marriage to sit and reflect and anticipate their shame and the shame in their grand-childrens' eyes if they continue that way of support. We’ve got to have equal rights for everyone."


I couldn't possibly have said it better myself. If you haven't yet seen Milk I highly recommend it.

Lola's Diner
©2008-2009

Blogger Follower Issue-???

Has anyone else using Blogger seen a noticeable drop in followers overnight? I had 76 followers when I shut down my computer at 3am.

When I turned it on around 11am I had 66.

I took a moment or two to review my followers and when I went back to my home page and I had only 57. From 66 to 57 in less than 2 minutes!

When I clicked on Manage Followers it says I have only 22.

Then a moment later when I clicked on it again it said I had 21.

I'm thinking, how could I have possibly offended that many people in such a short span of time? If anyone else has seen this happen today on their own blog, please comment and let me know.

Update:
Below is pasted a response I found on Blogger. I also had the same response post in my Twitter. It doesn't appear that we're going to see this fixed any time soon and it really seems rather silly that they can't make those followers public especially since they were public before. Hello! Supposedly, Supposedly the number of your followers hasn't changed, you just can't see them. I don't know about you, but I believe in seeing is believing!

I haven't been able to find anything on a launch date for the Google Friend Connect/Blogger Integration. If anyone knows, please post in the comments.

1. Blogger Employee

View profile Hey folks, You may have noticed the number of your public Followers has decreased over the last few hours. We are in the process of integrating with Friend Connect. There is small set of users that already use both Blogger Following and Friend Connect. To avoid linking the profiles of Blogger and Friend Connect users without their permission, we have set these users to "anonymous". They are still following privately and will able to make themselves public again. With the official launch of the Friend Connect integration, we will communicate with the affected users to encourage them to reset their relationship to public. To reiterate, the number of Followers has not changed, and we believe that the launch will improve the visibility of your blog and community. We will post more details on Blogger Buzz and here as the launch approaches. Thanks for your patience, Gatsby The Blogger Team

More options Feb 23, 1:08 pm

From: Blogger Employee

Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2009 11:08:50 -0800 (PST)

Local: Mon, Feb 23 2009 1:08 pm

Subject: Re: Updating on the Following issues this morning...

Reply | Forward | Print | Individual message | Report this message | Find messages by this author

Hey folks,

You may have noticed the number of your public Followers has decreased over the last few hours. We are in the process of integrating with Friend Connect.

There is small set of users that already use both Blogger Following and Friend Connect. To avoid linking the profiles of Blogger and Friend Connect users without their permission, we have set these users to "anonymous". They are still following privately and will able to make themselves public again.

With the official launch of the Friend Connect integration, we will communicate with the affected users to encourage them to reset their relationship to public. To reiterate, the number of Followers has not changed, and we believe that the launch will improve the visibility of
your blog and community. We will post more details on Blogger Buzz and here as the launch approaches.

Thanks for your patience,

Gatsby
The Blogger Team

Lola's Diner
©2008-2009

Cabin Fever Margaritaville Carnival Contest Winners Announced!

My original rules stated that when reading the vacation blog posts I was supposed to turn up the heat as if I were in some warm tropical place. Thanks to hot flashes, I didn't have to blow our budget and raise our gas bill. (I know, TMI, but it's true and I thought it was funny.)

First Place and winner of 1,500 Entrecard Credits is Stacy @ Stacy’s Random Thoughts. Stacy's entry, 2002 Punta Cana Vacation, ultimately scored the most points for the sheer number of photographs. It really made the reader a part of the trip. Please go check out her great photographs!

Second Place and winner of 750 Entrecard Credits is Kirsten @ Soccer Mom. Kirsten's entry, vacation to Kentucky, scored extra points for capturing the wedding ring photo op.
Third Place and winner of 250 Entrecard Credits is Cher @ Mama’s Money Savers. Cher's entry Royal Caribbean cruise to San Juan, St. Thomas, Puerto Rico, and the Bahamas, got extra points for the towel animal photo. How cool was that? Wonder what other towel animals they make?
I’ve decided to award 100 Entrecard Credits to each of our Honorable Mention Award winners, which happen to be our 2 other entrants:

Babette @ Definitely Maybe. Babette's entry, Europe Summer Vacation, scored extra points for bringing her children on her vacation. What were you thinking???

Harriet @ I Am Harriet. Harriet's entry, trip to the Art Institute of Chicago, scored extra points for the awesome wide-angle photographs and the fact that it was Chicago and the Art Institute. Anastasia and I love the Art Institute.
I hope that Stacy really appreciates the First Place win because Anastasia was insisting I award First Place to the Waffle House Wedding. She is threatening to ban me from using her new laptop because I chose to go with the entry that really went with the theme. What can I say? I’m an Accountant and a stickler for details. Sorry Kirsten, she really did try to rally for you.

Entrecard Credits will be added to each of the winners accounts shortly.

All of our winners can proudly post an “I’m a Winner at Lola’s Diner Cabin Fever Margaritaville Carnival” badge on their sidebar by clicking here for the code.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OUR WINNERS!

Lola's Diner
©2008-2009

Oscar! Oscar!

So, who among us doesn't think that Hugh Jackman is going to tank as host? Anyone? Anyone? Just because he was voted "Sexiest Man Alive" doesn't mean he can carry the Oscars. I'm just sayin'.

So, what are your picks? Mine are bolded in color.

You'll notice a certain bias towards "Milk", what can I say, I just thought that Sean Penn nailed it and Gus Van Sant is genius. I'm sure "Slumdog Millionaire" is going to sweep.

BEST PICTURE (Milk should win, but I'm betting "Slumdog Millionaire" wins.)
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE (Winner!)

BEST DIRECTOR (Milk should win, but I'm betting "Slumdog Millionaire" wins.)
DANNY BOYLE, SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE (Winner!)
David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon
Stephen Daldry, The Reader
Gus Van Sant, Milk

BEST ACTOR (I think Sean Penn should win, but it seems to by Mickey's year.)
Richard Jenkins, The Visitor
Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon
SEAN PENN, MILK (Winner!!! Awesome speech!)
Brad Pitt, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler

BEST ACTRESS
Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie, Changeling
Melissa Leo, Frozen River
Meryl Streep, Doubt
KATE WINSLET, THE READER (Winner!)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Josh Brolin, Milk
HEATH LEDGER, THE DARK KNIGHT (Winner!)
Robert Downey Jr., Tropic Thunder
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt
Michael Shannon, Revolutionary Road

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS (I really have no idea for this category.)
Amy Adams, Doubt
PENELOPE CRUZ, VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA (Winner!)
Viola Davis, Doubt
Taraji P. Henson, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Marisa Tomei, The Wrestler

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Frozen River, Courtney Hunt
Happy-Go-Lucky, Mike Leigh
In Bruges, Martin McDonagh
MILK, DUSTIN LANCE BLACK (Winner! Awesome speach!)
WALL-E, Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon, Pete Docter

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Eric Roth
Doubt, John Patrick Shanley
Frost/Nixon, Peter Morgan
The Reader, David Hare
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, SIMON BEAUFOY (Winner!)

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
Bolt
Kung Fu Panda
WALL-E (Winner!)

BEST ANIMATED SHORT (I'll be honest, I'm just going by the title. lol!)
LA MAISON EN PETITS CUBES (Winner!)
Lavatory — Lovestory
Oktapodi
Presto
This Way Up

BEST ART DIRECTION
Changeling
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON (Winner!)
The Dark Knight
The Duchess
Revolutionary Road

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
The Reader
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE (Winner!)

BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Australia
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
THE DUCHESS (Winner!)
Milk
Revolutionary Road

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE (I don't have a clue.)
The Betrayal (Nerakhoon)
Encounters at the End of the World
The Garden
MAN ON WIRE (Winner! Bonus points for the magic trick.)
Trouble the Water

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT (I don't have a clue.)
The Conscience of Nhem En
The Final Inch
SMILE PINKI (Winner!)
The Witness — From the Balcony of Room 306

BEST EDITING
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Frost/Nixon
Milk
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE (Winner!)

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM (I don't have a clue.)
The Baader Meinhof Complex (Germany)
The Class (France)
DEPARTURES (JAPAN) (Winner!)
Revanche (Austria)
Waltz with Bashir (Israel)

BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT (I don't have a clue.)
Auf der Strecke (On the Line)
Manon on the Asphalt
New Boy
The Pig
SPIELZEUGLAND (TOYLAND) (Winner!)

BEST MAKEUP
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON (Winner!)
The Dark Knight
Hellboy II: The Golden Army

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Alexandre Desplat
Defiance, James Newton Howard
Milk, Danny Elfman
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, A. R. RAHMAN (Winner!)
WALL-E, Thomas Newman

BEST ORIGINAL SONG (I don't have a clue.)
''Down to Earth,'' WALL-E
''JAI HO", SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE (Winner!)
''O Saya,'' Slumdog Millionaire

BEST SOUND EDITING (I don't have a clue.)
THE DARK KNIGHT (Winner!)
Iron Man
Slumdog Millionaire
WALL-E
Wanted

BEST SOUND MIXING (I don't have a clue.)
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE (Winner!)
WALL-E
Wanted

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON (Winner!)
The Dark Knight
Iron Man

Well, technically speaking I got 50% correct because I did acknowledge Slumdog Millionaire would win, even though I wanted Milk to win for Best Picture and Best Director.

How did you do?

Lola's Diner
©2008-2009