songs I hate; funeral pics

Here are some pictures from my grandfather's (David Yazell's) funeral. He was a World War II Marine Corps veteran. I gave the eulogy and played "Be Still My Soul," a flute solo. The meeting with family was a great experience and a lovely tribute to, and celebration of, my "Gramper"'s life.Jerry, me, Rebekah: Heads as they appear left to right: me, Brian (Amanda's husband), April, Amanda, Guy, Jerry

Here are 25 songs I hate. This list is in no way comprehensive:

1. Mambo #5- Lou Bega
   
2. Born in the USA- Bruce Springsteen


3. Take it Off- Ke$ha
   
4. I Feel Like a Woman- Shania Twain
   
5. Last Christmas- Wham!
   
6. I Will Always Love You- Whitney Houston


7. Achy Breaky Heart- Billy Ray Cyrus


8. Airplanes- B. o. B.
   
9. Tik Tok- Ke$ha
   
10. Riding Solo- Jason Derulo
    
11. Anything by Glee Cast
12. Don't Stop- Fleetwood Mac
    
13. Kokomo- Beach Boys
    
14. Greatest Love of All- Whitney Houston
    
15. Live Like We're Dying- Kris Allen


16. Have You Really Ever Loved a Woman- Bryan Adams
    
17. Hey There Delilah- Plain White Ts


18. Your Body is a Wonderland- John Mayer
    
19. Macarena- Los Del Rio


20. My Humps- Black Eyed Peas
    
21. Blue Christmas- Elvis Presley
    
22. Sweet Child of Mine (cover)- Sheryl Crow
    
23. I Wanna Soak Up the Sun- Sheryl Crow
    
24. Hey Soul Sister- Train
    
25. Raise Your Glass- Pink

Mormon cliches

Below is a grouping of all of my Facebook statuses for 2010. Click on it to enlarge.

I get a kick out of phrases that are used over and over again in the Mormon church. I wrote down some that I heard in Sacrament Meeting recently. Here they are:

• I do so humbly
• receive guidance and counsel
• I just want to stand before you
• each and every one of us
• with every fiber of my being

And finally here is one that is totally unique:

My testimony is not based on God, it's based on you people. I'm not
waiting for God, I'm waiting for you.

HP and the Deathly Hallows *spoilers*

Above is a picture of me and my mom at the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 movie showing at IMAX, midnight: the minute it came out.

• There were two girls standing in line who were dressed up as Dobby and Kreacher.
• The movie was excellent in every way.
• I was a bit confused why Harry didn't tell Ron that Harry's and Hermione's relationship is strictly platonic, upon discovering that Ron was in love with Hermione.
• I like the movie Ron better than the book Ron.
• I find it interesting that people are up in arms about the scene where Ron sees a vision of Harry and Hermione making out topless. We see a bit of Hermione's boobie. I have no problem with it at all.

Speaking of boobies, one of my Subeams was poking mine last week and asked, "What are these? and why are they so big?" I replied, "Boobies. and that's just the way they are."

Here is a quotation that I found interesting:

Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely
in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, cigar
in one hand, favorite beverage in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally
worn out, and screaming WOO HOO - What a Ride!-- Anonymous

I was sort of on the radio

This morning I texted Kane of the Kane Show on Hot 99.5, a very popular radio station here in Washington, DC. This is what I said: "Kane, I am in awe of your superior intelligence, which is why I was shocked 2 hear u say 'eK cetera' this morning. It's 'eT cetera.'" He responded, "HAH! Do I really? Never noticed. I won't anymore, I'll tell you that!" Then after the break he read my text on the air and mentioned that it was from x8033 phone number. He asked Sammy and Sarah if he had really mispronounced it. He doubted that he had. Who cares?; he read my text on the air!!! I am thrilled! I sent a text back to him: "You put my text on the air! love you babe, et cetera."

Harry Potter 7

More countdown widgets at Widgia.com

out of practice

It's been for-blooming-ever since I posted. I am out of practice.

My index fingers are longer than my ring fingers. Jerry's are the opposite. Rebekah has one hand like Jerry's and one hand where the fingers are the same length. Aubrey's are like mine. The whole thing is very interesting. On the radio they were trying to say that a study shows it is linked to several things, including likelihood of promiscuity. Something about levels of testosterone in the system at the time the embryo's fingers are being developed. Whatever.

Probably a big reason I have not posted for so long is that I keep meaning to upload pictures from Rebekah's camera, but I am not focused enough on this task to make it happen. However, I have here uploaded some poor-quality, unrepresentative pictures of certain things.

I found only one dictionary that lists "sherbert" as a real word, and I am angry with that dictionary, because it seems to have caved to the constant misspelling of this word. It is "sherbet," with one r. It always cracks me up when signs with misspellings get mass produced and displayed.

Rebekah fractured her wrist by jumping off of the roof of some playground equipment. If you're gonna fracture your wrist at age 16, that is a really good way to do it, in my opinion. This is her first cast. She chose black so it would match her homecoming dress. Homecoming pictures follow.

This is me in my usual Halloween costume. I got all dressed up for the trunk-or-treat party, only to show up just as it was ending. (I guessed wrong what time it started.) Rebekah felt bad for me, so she took the time to turn up the music in the car and dance with me in the parking lot.

My new hair color

Rebekah and our enormous kitten Chou-Chou

new shoes

Look at these new shoes. Rebekah and I bought them to share. Today it is my turn. I know shoes of this style have a name, but I can't think of it. A little help?

Big Mama

Last week I had this conversation with a coworker:

Man: "Where have you been?"

Me: "I've been here."

Man: "I haven't seen you much."

Me: "I guess I must be invisible."

Man (eyeing my chest): "No that's definitely not it. You are far from invisible, BIG MAMA."



Jerry informs me that the epithet "Big Mama" refers specifically to a woman with big boobs. Well well, what do I think of this? I think I didn't like being called Big Mama. But not enough to report the man to HR. He is of the older generation and probably meant it as a compliment. I didn't take it as a compliment. Several years ago I would have taken this incident much to heart. But now I just find it mildly annoying but still motivating enough add it to my list of nuggets that have led me to (seriously this time!) start a diet today. I have had all sizes of boobies in my life and have enjoyed each one. But my present boob size is indicative of, not breastfeeding this time, but of a greater body size overall. So I will decrease my boob size and therefore my body size overall.



My work location has changed as of today, and I will be driving 45 minutes more to work every day. That is a 1.5 hour or more trip each way now. I am taking it as an opportunity to change several things in my life:

• My weight, as I have already mentioned


• My exercise habits. I have been running most every day, but there is a gym in the building next to mine now, and I may work out there at lunch every day.


• My eating out expenses. Where I used to work, there were the most posh and expensive and delicious restaurants known to man. Giving them my money every day was a very bad habit. I plan to bring my lunch to work now, and when I do go out to eat in Springfield, it will cost much less.


• I have prescription medications that I should have been taking but have not. I will now take them as I should, and that will help with the weight loss.


• Unlike before, I will do some work at work.

Impactful TV moments

Off the top of my head, here are some of the TV moments that have had a big effect on me. I'm sure I can come up with more later.

Dracula. One of my earliest memories is watching a woman get bitten and blood-sucked by Dracula. I don't remember what version of Dracula it was. I was stunned.

Sesame Street: "Put down the ducky if you want to play the saxophone." I have used this advice on my children and on myself many times.


Bugs Bunny making fruit salad on Elmer Fudd's head. Every time I wash my hair or another person's hair, I have this tune ("The Barber of Seville") running through my head. Start at 3:06 of the video.


Buffy and her mother in Buffy the Vampire Slayer


Booth professing his love in Bones

Remington Steele opening sequence

Cameron tries to stab House. I couldn't find a video of it that didn't have some sort of stupid music superimposed over it, so you'll have to do with a picture of Cameron sneaking up on House to kiss him, and a short video of what happens right after the kiss.


X-Files: Scully crumbling and collapsing in front of Mulder after being held captive by Donnie Pfaster, a shape-shifting death fetishist serial killer
A Bit of Fry and Laurie: I find myself singing this about once a week. And yes, that IS the Hugh Laurie who plays Dr. House on House.

Gillian

Picture of the day: Gillian Anderson of X-Files (and many other things) fame. Around my house it is "all X-Files, all the time" right now. I watch about 4 episodes per day.

Aubrey's public school first and last

Here are pictures of Aubrey's last day of public school at age 17, and her first few days of public school at age not-quite-4.

Aubrey's move-in

Here are pictures of us moving Aubrey into her dorm room at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.

Here is a promo picture for the upcoming season of House.

another X-Files jaunt

I simply had to post this here. It very nearly made me cry. Have I ever said that I love the X-Files? I started watching it again last night, and I fear for my sleep.

running sucks/rocks

I stole this off of a friend's blog. It sums up how I feel about running. I am considering running a full marathon in April. Easier said than done, however. I don't know if I have it in me.

red and nude

• Here is my new hair. I had it done at a salon, which was quite an indulgence. It is a very striking color that is not found in nature. It gets a lot of attention, as it contrasts greatly with my mayonnaise skin. Sometimes I think I like it and other times I don't. As Jerry says about me, I really like being noticed, but I really hate being noticed.
  
  

• Would you ever consider going to a nude beach? I am open minded. Sure it is not modest, but in some cultures it is considered de rigueur. In Finland everyone gets naked for the sauna. In a purely non-sexual way, I think it would be very fascinating to see all of the different variations on the human form. I would wish I were a sketch artist, but all of the bathers probably would not appreciate being sketched. Or maybe they wouldn't care, how should I know?

• I dropped Aubrey off at Carnegie Mellon University on Sunday. It was sad of course but somewhat natural as well. She knows not a single person there. She is ready for her new adventure. I will post pictures of this event later.

Blog o' Kimberly's third birthday

Yesterday was the three year birthday of this blog. *Here* is the link to my first post. I was all excited about Harry Potter in that first post, so in honor of this third birthday, here is a small clip of the making of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the first part to be released in November of this year.


I went to see John Mayer in concert Saturday. What a fun time! The music was bluesy and John made funny faces that made him sing well. He is either very eccentric, or he had been smoking something. He even told us that under the bandanna he was wearing was where he kept his LSD. What a cad! Here is a picture of Lori and me on the grass at the concert.

Cocoa Cola

I thought this was funny. How does stuff like this get printed, much less posted for all to see? Unless there is a new flavor of soda I don't know about?

Chou-Chou

Here is the new kitten that we picked out at the animal shelter yesterday. She is a miniature version of Kitty, the cat we have already. She is a blue Persian. We will name her Chou-Chou (pronounced "shu shu"). That is French for little cutiepie. She has to get fixed at the vet before we can bring her home. Should be early next week. I am so excited but have some trepidation. Will she terrorize Kitty? Will she take Kitty's lead and pee on the carpet? Will Kitty and Chou-Chou be BFFs or will they bring out the hiss in each other?

Lie to Me *major spoilers* and Salad Fingers

I am 'shipping Cal Lightman and Gillian Foster on Lie to Me, my new fave show since Bones and House are on hiatus. I made this screen shot from a preview of upcoming episodes. Cal is wearing a wedding ring and so I suppose they are under cover. The old "undercover" plot never gets old. Great characters, especially Cal . I love me a careless, reckless, occasionally mean, masochistic, beautiful genius of a character with a death wish. The most physically beat up character ever probably. And Tim Roth plays him so well.

Here is my new discovery, Salad Fingers: a character created by British cartoonist David Firth in 2004. I recommend that you only look at the picture and don't watch the video. Unless you are warped, you won't like it, and I am sure none of my readers are warped.

perhaps foremost

Quotation of the day: "Perhaps foremost, he wanted me to find a way to reach out to the Muslim world and engage much more with dominantly Muslim nations to help them feel good about their historic contribution to science ... and math and engineering." --NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, on what President Obama told him NASA should be doing

"There is no technology they have that we need."--Michael Griffin, former NASA Administrator, in response to Charles Bolden's statement above

Aubrey's high school graduation

Here are Aubrey's graduation photos, all out of order. In completely backwards order actually. She went to two different high schools, on alternating days for four years. The first pictures are from Stone Bridge High School.

Aubrey with long-time boyfriend Parker:
Aubrey with superfriend Claire:

Jerry, Aubrey, and me:

Rebekah and Aubrey:

About to get her diploma. Later I will put up a video of the actual reading of the name etc.

At the Patriot Center:

Procession into the arena, set to "Pomp and Circumstance." This is where I cried. That song is a killer.

Aubrey is the grinning one:

Here we are after the Academy of Science graduation. Jerry, Rebekah, Aubrey, me, Grandpa George (Jerry's dad). This graduation is where Aubrey got her cords that she was able to wear in the Stone Bridge graduation above. The cords signify the great honor it was for her to be invited to attend the Academy of Science.

Our little family:

Later I will put up a video of the Academy of Science graduation too.

So. Darn. Proud. And a little freaked out.