dorks r us!

Yeah, I'm not sure why I'm even posting this, other than to prove once and for all that I was truly, truly deserving to have won Lin at Duck And Wheel With String's Dork-Off contest. I mean, seriously, I campaigned for it. That should have told you something right there.

But wait there is more. Remember my post where I talked about my computer mysteriously shutting off and then not turning back on again? And how I made made a late night call to HP tech support and performed brain surgery on my laptop. And how the next day I made a trip to the Geek Squad at Best Buy and how the guy just plugged it in and it turned on just like that! You know, just like when you have that noise in your car and you bring it to the repair shop and the car geek guy takes it for a spin and doesn't hear it? Like that!

Well, it happened again Saturday night! I thought it may have been because I had inadvertently left the laptop on while my daughter and I went to the banquet. I thought maybe it got to hot, so I let it cool for awhile. Then I put the battery in, nothing. Tried hitting the F'keys like I remember the HP tech told me to the first time. I even re-seated the Ram card. Nothing! As I was on hold for the Geek Squad I told my daughter to plug the power cord into a different outlet. In order to do this I had to move the power cord from the left of me to the right of me.

And...

Wait for it...
The cord was disconnected from the power supply thingy (where I have written "Plug in Here" on my high tech diagram). Yeah, I had it plugged into my computer and plugged into the wall socket, however both were no longer connected to each other! Somehow it wiggled lose and disconnected. I quickly re-connected them, tried to turn it on and wah lah! It turned on! I immediately hung up on the Geek Squad (I wasn't rude...I was still on hold and hadn't yet spoken to a live person.)

Is that dorky or what?

What dorky thing will you admit you've done lately? Grab the I'm A Dork Badge here, and post your dork story on your blog.

Come on...I know I'm not the only one.
(Please...don't let me be the only one!)
(I'm serious!)

Lola's Diner
©2008-2009

A Local Running of the Bulls?

I didn't believe this at first, but there was a "large black bull running loose" around Jackson and Henderson Streets" in Joliet, IL, about 12:30 a.m Sunday. Seriously!

We had our own little running of the bulls. (Ok, it was one, but seriously, how often do you see a real live 700 pound black bull running around in the city?) Thankfully no one was hurt.

Bull Caught In Joliet Neighborhood.

Turns out the bull belonged to a farm on Gouger Road. The alleged owner has to show proof of ownership of the bull that he says he imported from Mexico.

(Photo from the running of the bulls in Spain.)

How cool would it have been if someone would have taken a photo of the bull that ran around Joliet?

No word on if anyone was seen running ahead of the bull wearing white and carrying a red flag.

Lola's Diner
©2008-2009

why haven't I heard?

I feel like I've been living under a rock. Creed's Scott Stapp Calls Reunion "A Renewing and Rebirth". I'm on the internet all the time, and this is the first I've heard? Creed is getting back together? Awesome. They have a new album coming out August 25th, "Full Circle". (Look I still use the world album! Isn't that so old school? I meant cd.) I rarely by cd's anymore, but I think this is one I will run out and buy.

Here is video of the reunited Creed.

I know, kind of weird, a 40 something (yes, I can still say that for a couple more years!) who likes Creed. It's kind of grunge music, but then my music tastes are quite varied. The "My Own Prison" cd really spoke to me. I didn't discover it right away, but as odd as it sounds, it really empowered me. I found it at a time where my life was really in turmoil. I have all 3 of their cds and I just came across them in a box in storage.





Lola's Diner
©2008-2009

Happy Birthday to Richard Simmons!

Richard Simmons turns 61 today! Happy Birthday!

If you don't know who he is, you are either too young or you've lived under a rock since the 80's. Richard Simmons is the flamboyant, high-energy, motivational weight, dolphin shorts wearing weight loss guru. He had his own weight loss plan, remember Deal A Meal? And he had his own video series "Sweatin' to the Oldies" (now on DVD) which featured actual, life size fat people. He did not have the skinny people seen on other exercise tapes or programs. He chose real plus sized people, like me, in his tapes and programs.

He now has a new weight loss program called Food Mover Program 2009.

Richard has his own website, Richard Simmons.com and is currently campaigning to get Physical Education into the No Child Left Behind Act.

This video is from 01/10/08:


Lola's Diner
©2008-2009

Golf Banquet

These are some photos from our daughter's golf banquet from this evening. She actually asked me to post them! So here is part of the team that attended the event. My daughter is the one with the Mickey Mouse t-shirt.

Lola's Diner
©2008-2009

TGIF VGNO!

Woo hoo! DSL is back and working. I seriously doubt we could have survived the weekend without it! Noooo, I'm not kidding! We use internet as a reward (read BRIBE) for the kids doing their chores. Needless to say, they have been less than cooperative since we had no DSL.

Oh, by the way, I'm guest posting for Kat over at Sassie Irish Lassie today. Please stop by and check out the video I posted for VGNO on Kat's site.

Time For A Question - From Ann

Seeing as I have Coldplay as my birthday party's "house band" (I live in my own little world, don't I? ;-> ) I was wondering... what band, or artist, would you have play at your birthday party? I know this is going to be good.

Since it is for my birthday (and it actually is this month - next Friday, plenty of shopping days left!) I think I'll go for some Goo. Yeah, I love me some Goo Goo Dolls. Enjoy!

Are you a regular at Lola's Diner?

How do you become a regular? Become a Follower!

Come on, all the kewl kids are doin' it!

Lola's Diner
©2008-2009

There Goes The Neighborhood

What, you thought I was going to regale you with another tale of Drummer Boy, aka Metallica-head or Mr. Friendly? Or perhaps some new neighbor? No, we actually haven't met the new neighbor yet.

No, this is a new 7 episode reality show set to air in August. There Goes The Neighborhood - CBS Reality Show.

"Eight families in a suburban neighborhood who are enclosed by a massive 20-foot wall as they compete in family-friendly games for the grand prize of $250,000."
Cut off from the outside world -

No way in
No way out
No electricity
No television
No internet
No telephone
No cell phone
No texting

Each week a family will be voted out.
Could your family do it?

No way in/out - Shoot! I could do that hands down, no problem. I'm home bound most of the time anyway, so this wouldn't be all that new.

No electricity - Hmm, I would miss certain necessities, like a refrigerator, freezer, coffee maker.

No television - There's nothing on this time of the year anyway. I think I could deal if I had some playing cards or reading materials.

No internet? I've gone without DSL for a few days now and I've warned Anastasia more than once that I'm about to crack. We're talking disruption to my routine and the fact that our finances are keeping me on lock down.

No telephone/cell phone/texting - I mostly just call/text Anastasia or the kids, so since this "social experiment" required everyone to be together, phoning them would not be necessary.

I know for certain I couldn't do it with any of my current neighbors. I find it practically impossible to be cordial to Drummer Boy, aka Metallica-head. It's something about those late night jams, the same repetitive drum riff until you feel like you're going to go insane, or his dog running lose and terrorizing our son. And Mr. Friendly...he's just not friendly. How can you be friendly with someone who has been blatantly unfriendly for nearly 4 years? Our other neighbors that we know, Sue and her husband are alright. They just like to start drinking brewskis at 10am. Not personally knowing whether they are happy drunks or angry drunks, either way, it could be an issue for a community of 8 families.

So, how would your family do?

How would you do with your current neighbors?
Leave a comment and let us know.

Lola's Diner
©2008-2009