Christmas/Hannukah/Kwanzaa/Holiday stresses got you down? Well never fear--the frogg is here! Today I have heroically used my downtime at work to entertain you with this blog. At least, I hope you are entertained. (If you aren't, and would like to complain, please see the second-to-last paragraph of this post. Thank you.)
First of all, I would just like to inform you that today is a cause for celebration. Many celebrations, actually. Because NOT ONLY is it the Winter Solstice, it is also a Palindrome Day! Look--12/21. Now write the numbers from right to left, and it is the same! Watch, I'll do it: 12/21. Whoa! How cool is that!
(Yes, I have too much free time.)
But wait, there's more! Today is also: National Flashlight Day, National Hamburger Day, and Look on the Bright Side Day. So do yourself a favor and look on the bright side by shining your flashlight on a burger from your favorite burger joint (In-N-Out, baby!). And don't forget that "hamburger" written backward is "regrubmah." Uh, that's not a palindrome, is it. Oops. (But it's kind of funny, because it sounds like "Re-grub, ma." Haha!)
Ok, moving on. The next thing I want to share with you is a site called innocentenglish, featuring lots of funny signs gleaned from foreign countries. Here are a few of my favorites, which had me nearly choking in my efforts to not laugh so loudly that the attention of my co-workers would be drawn to the fact that I am doing a lot less work than they are today:
1) A yellow caution sign by a river in Japan:
CAREFULLY FALL INTO THE RIVER!
2) On a multipurpose knife sold in Japan:
CAUTION: BLADE EXTREMELY SHARP! KEEP OUT OF CHILDREN.
3) Sign at park:
KEEP JAPAN GREEN
DON'T BURN
THE FIRE CHIEF
(oh I do love that one!)
4) A flush button in subway toilet:
You lady will push this button before leaving.
5) Bathroom sign:
Caution: when you take a bath, please close the
door and switch on the fun without fail.
6) On the menu of a Swiss restaurant:
Our wines leave you nothing to hope for.
Yes, it's hard to choose a favorite, but this one gets the Frogg's Croak Award today:
7) A sign in an Osaka hotel elevator above the emergency call button:
Push this button in case anything happens.
Finally, if you are tempted to complain about how crazy things are at this time of year, or anything else really, save it for December 26, which is National Whiners Day. I tell you I can't wait! I am a prodigiously accomplished whiner. Just ask my family...my Christmas-Day trademark, "Come on, guys--When are we going to open the presents?" is legendary (and still performed).
Until next time, here's wishing you a blessed/good/joyous/merry/seasonal/holiday day. Kisses from the frogg princess...
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
No Happy Holidays For You!
As a followup to my previous post, here is a link to a CNN article that I happened to find a few minutes ago:
Tiptoeing Around "Merry Christmas," Er, "Happy Holidays"
I would laugh if it weren't so depressing...the fact that people are busily fighting, at Christmas time, over what is the best way to greet someone, or what to call a tree that has pretty lights on it.
Not to mention the fact that this is primetime news.
Personally, I think we should all just...not talk. No pleasant greetings! No cheerful salutations! And all these angry people get a lump of coal in their stockings for being ridiculous.
(Unless, of course, they don't believe that Christ approves of stockings, in which case I just don't want to hear it.)
Tiptoeing Around "Merry Christmas," Er, "Happy Holidays"
I would laugh if it weren't so depressing...the fact that people are busily fighting, at Christmas time, over what is the best way to greet someone, or what to call a tree that has pretty lights on it.
Not to mention the fact that this is primetime news.
Personally, I think we should all just...not talk. No pleasant greetings! No cheerful salutations! And all these angry people get a lump of coal in their stockings for being ridiculous.
(Unless, of course, they don't believe that Christ approves of stockings, in which case I just don't want to hear it.)
Thinking Aloud
This morning I logged onto bible.com because I can't remember very well the last time I read much of the Bible, and I felt like maybe it would be nice to read some, today. I found the following survey on the front page of the site:
What concerns you the most about how the world is attacking Christmas, a Christian holiday?
a) Using an "X" to replace Christ's name in Christmas - i.e. Xmas
b) Banning manger scenes from public places
c) Substituting "Happy Holidays" for "Merry Christmas"
d) Emphasizng Santa Claus over Baby Jesus
I have to say, I am not particularly bothered by any of the above, and it depresses me a little that this seems to be the big concern for Christians at this time of year. Why should we be surprised if a world that doesn't care much for God as a general rule, doesn't want to honor him at all?
It strikes me (wearisomely, these days) that we who love the Lord have to pick our battles, and we seem to be picking all the wrong ones.
I remember meeting a woman a few years ago, in a Borders bookstore, and somehow engaging her in a conversation about God and religion. I began to talk to her about the concept of "grace" and she looked blank. I asked if she knew what the word meant--just the dictionary definition, really--and she shook her head.
That bothers me a whole lot more than whether or not a manger scene is set up on a street corner.
What concerns you the most about how the world is attacking Christmas, a Christian holiday?
a) Using an "X" to replace Christ's name in Christmas - i.e. Xmas
b) Banning manger scenes from public places
c) Substituting "Happy Holidays" for "Merry Christmas"
d) Emphasizng Santa Claus over Baby Jesus
I have to say, I am not particularly bothered by any of the above, and it depresses me a little that this seems to be the big concern for Christians at this time of year. Why should we be surprised if a world that doesn't care much for God as a general rule, doesn't want to honor him at all?
It strikes me (wearisomely, these days) that we who love the Lord have to pick our battles, and we seem to be picking all the wrong ones.
I remember meeting a woman a few years ago, in a Borders bookstore, and somehow engaging her in a conversation about God and religion. I began to talk to her about the concept of "grace" and she looked blank. I asked if she knew what the word meant--just the dictionary definition, really--and she shook her head.
That bothers me a whole lot more than whether or not a manger scene is set up on a street corner.
Monday, December 19, 2005
I'm Back...
...and I'm sick. Stupid cold and flu season. I hate it.
Feel free to tell me how sorry you are for me. I'm sure that will help me feel better soon. Pity parties are oh-so-fun!
In the meantime, this is the frogg, signing off and thinking longingly of her bed at home, where she would much prefer to be right now, instead of at work. Sigh.
Feel free to tell me how sorry you are for me. I'm sure that will help me feel better soon. Pity parties are oh-so-fun!
In the meantime, this is the frogg, signing off and thinking longingly of her bed at home, where she would much prefer to be right now, instead of at work. Sigh.
Thursday, December 15, 2005
I Lied...
...obviously, because here I am, blogging when I said I would be gone for a few days. Well, I am gone, so I guess that wasn't a lie, but I am blogging, so maybe that was. I don't know because I have been up since 3am, and it is now 8pm Pacific Time, and I am operating on about 2 hours of sleep. Why am I posting, you ask? Or maybe you didn't. I don't know, because I am not right there with you. But I will tell you anyway--I was conscience-stricken about one of the links I had in my previous post. The post is edited, the link is gone, and I can go to sleep now.
I'll be back soon.
PS Texas is alright, but very flat and brown. It's strange not to see mountains in any direction, for miles. Sigh...
I'll be back soon.
PS Texas is alright, but very flat and brown. It's strange not to see mountains in any direction, for miles. Sigh...
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Speaking of Strange, But Amusing, News
In bizarre news today, a man in New Zealand apparently "fled" a hospital in Christchurch sporting casts on both arms and a traction apparatus to correct a serious neck injury.
I have to ask: is the word "fled" (which to me means runnning desperately away from someone/something) really appropriate here? How fast could this man possibly go in the condition that he's in? Was someone actually chasing him, that he would be fleeing from them?? And that person couldn't catch a man wearing elbow-to-wrist casts on BOTH arms, AND the neck-traction halo? Wow.
On the other hand, I find it hard to believe that he just slipped out of the hospital with no one noticing, and somehow lost himself in the city. I mean, look at what he's wearing!! Not exactly inconspicuous, is it? Unless the fashion trends have taken a very startling turn in kiwiland.
And yet, the fact remains that the man has "disappeared" and the police are actually hunting for him. How odd.
Ah, I miss New Zealand!
Note: This is my last post for the week. I'm off to the Lone Star state (appropriate, no?) for the next few days, to see my brother get his wings. Yes, that is what I said. Til I return, miss me, my darlings!
I have to ask: is the word "fled" (which to me means runnning desperately away from someone/something) really appropriate here? How fast could this man possibly go in the condition that he's in? Was someone actually chasing him, that he would be fleeing from them?? And that person couldn't catch a man wearing elbow-to-wrist casts on BOTH arms, AND the neck-traction halo? Wow.
On the other hand, I find it hard to believe that he just slipped out of the hospital with no one noticing, and somehow lost himself in the city. I mean, look at what he's wearing!! Not exactly inconspicuous, is it? Unless the fashion trends have taken a very startling turn in kiwiland.
And yet, the fact remains that the man has "disappeared" and the police are actually hunting for him. How odd.
Ah, I miss New Zealand!
Note: This is my last post for the week. I'm off to the Lone Star state (appropriate, no?) for the next few days, to see my brother get his wings. Yes, that is what I said. Til I return, miss me, my darlings!
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