Fuel and Flee

This evening on the highway, Mr. Ameliabee and I were passed by a pickup truck weaving in and out of traffic going a zillion miles an hour.

Also, it was dragging something behind it.

Our first response (as it so often is) was to quote MST3K's Mitchell--"Hey Mister, your thing is dragging!" Then, to let him get far, far away from us. He didn't get too far, as he suddenly pulled over to the berm. As we passed, I could see exactly what was dragging behind his car.

A hose. Attached to a Gas Pump Nozzle. Which was in his gas tank.
Holy Crap.

For the rest of the trip we wondered: How on earth does that happen? Wouldn't you feel the tug as you pulled away from the pump? And how in the process of purchasing gas could you just forget to take out the nozzle? If anyone has done this, I'd love to hear your story.

Mr. Ameliabee is convinced that the person was attempting to make a quick getaway after stealing gas. A little too quick...

Receive the Receiver

An incredibly cool guy I work with has an incredibly cool band, and incredibly, two of their songs are going to be featured on a major TV show in a few weeks.

The band is The Receiver. Here is their myspace page, on which they have snips of songs available, or you can listen to the entire album free here in the Media section.
Their music is atmospheric and beautiful, and yet a little bit rock-like at times. Laundress, I think you in particular would like them. My favorites are "One In" which is so beautiful that it gets me a bit choked up sometimes, and "Decades." You really really should check them out.

The fellow I work with is Casey, who plays the keyboards and bass and all kinds of other things--the other band member is his brother Jesse, who shares my deep appreciation for crash cymbals as instruments, not just tacky punctuation. There is a muiscality about them that I've always loved, almost like a harsh chime.
I say, why drag those big cymbals up on stage if you are only going to use them when David Lee Roth does a herkie off your drum kit? Yeah, I'm talkin' to you Alex Van Halen.

But I digress. Two songs from the Decades album (which two I seem to have forgotten) will be featured in the March 30th broadcast of "Dirt" on F/X. (which is like Fox minus the O? Maybe?)

I'm hoping someone in my immediate circle of friend can tape this for me, as I don't have cable...but all you others in TV land, check it out for yourselves!

Brown?

I saw this emblazoned on a truck rear window today.

If Its Brown It Goes Down.

Um. Okay?

Big Snow!

Wowza has it snowed!
We've been under a blizzard warning since yesterday afternoon, and one tv station already has its Blizzard '08 graphic working overtime, but I'm not sure it is a blizzard just yet.

But, blizzard or no, it has snowed, snowed, snowed. We live about 1/2 mile from Union County which is under a Level 3 snow emergency--if they catch you driving, they can arrest you. So, needless to say, we are cuddled up safe at home today.

Here is the view out our back door a few hours ago:

A few more snow shots are in my flickr album.

**UPDATE!*** According to the weather fellow, we got a grand total of 20 inches of snow in the past two days. Yup, I did say twenty. This, as I understand it is a Record of Some Sort.

Photo Survey

I am absolutely stealing this from the lovely and talented Ms. Beth.
Hers was just so fun, I had to try myself!
Here's how it works:
1. Go to www.photobucket.com (don't sign in)
2. Type in your answer to the question in the "search" box
3. Use only the first page
4. Copy the html and paste for the answer.

1. First Name?


2. What is your relationship status?







Happy!


3.Favorite Color?
Yellow. And Bandidos?


4. Who's your celebrity crush?


And no, it isn't Carrot Top.
This is Carrot Top--scary, scary Carrot Top.



5. Favorite Disney Princess?

I know, I know. She isn't a princess per se, but I really can't stand the princesses.
And anyway, she's a queen, right?

6. Favorite thing to drink?

Diet Pepsi!


7. One of your favorite movies?

Ummm. This is Strange Brew. Apparently.


8. Age of your next birthday?

9. Town you were born in?

Canton, Ohio! Party Down!


10. Town that you live in?

Columbus, Ohio


11. Middle Name?

I'll let you guess!

12. Last Name?

13. Grandma's Name

14. Favorite Food Treat

15. Place you'd like to visit

Iceland!

Surprise!

This weekend, Mrs. Oof and I threw a great big old Jump-Out-And-Scare-The-Guest-Of-Honor surprise party for Mr. Oof.

We've been sneaking around for weeks setting things up--and while he suspected something was up, Mr. Oof was really truly surprised. My major contributions were--my house (and yes, I did actually clean!) and the cake.

I had seen a flying-V guitar cake over at Frosted Garden so I had something to shoot for. Mine isn't nearly as good as Steph's, but for a kind of noob, not bad!

It looks a bit like a wee-wee with red pants on...but still not bad.

Biz!

I have a wonderful, wonderful cleaning tip for you!
I know, I know…who wants a cleaning tip from the Girl with Fewer Housekeeping Skills Than Paris Hilton?
But if this works for someone as impatient and bad at laundry as me, think of what it will do for you!

A few days ago, there was a tragedy in the Bee Household.
Mrs. Ameliabee (that’s me) left a blue pen in the pocket of a dress and sent it through the wash.
As you can guess, this was not a Good Plan.

In this load were two of my favorite jumpers and my three favoritest white shirts.

And, you know how I love my jumpers.
Sadness ensued, and though I tried every cleaning remedy I could think of, the blue Persisted.

So, in desperation, I turned to the internet for an answer. And got one.
I came across this wonderful link: http://www.macnstuff.com/mcfl/1/stainremoval.html

The technique is the Biz Boil—and I was really skeptical at first.
Skeptical, but willing to try one more thing before tossing my favorite clothes.

In two words--It. Worked.

How to do it:

1. Get a Great Big pot or bucket that can be on the stove top.
2. Heat over high heat until pretty warm.
3. Add about 1 cup of Biz Laundry Stuff, stir until dissolved.
4. Add icky clothing, stirring and moving it around to get the stains underwater.
5. Bring water to a boil, and boil (with clothes in the pot) for around 10 minutes (the website recommended 45, but 10 worked just fine)
6. Move the clothes around occasionally, making sure to keep the stained part under the water.
7. Check the stained area to determine when stains are gone.
8. The website recommends allowing the clothes to cool in the water, but I’m waaaaay to impatient for that.
9. Ameliabee’s way? Take clothes out of pot with tongs, drain in colander.
10. Wash as usual.
    It is a truly amazing thing. I was concerned that washing this blouse in such hot water would ruin it, but everything is just fine.

The only downside? The Mother of All Messes on the stovetop. Worth it times a thousand, I say.

And--me being me, I wore my favorite shirt to work the next day, proud of my newly-found Mad Laundry Skillz, and promptly dumped my lunch down the front. Looks like Biz and I are going to become very close friends...

I know you're out there, I can hear you reading...

Well, I'm back.
Thanks to some gentle, insistent prodding from Ms. Beth and the opening of Lynn's blog to announce, I realized it was time to come back.

And, I realize I need a place to snark, be silly and rant a bit. It was sneaking into my Serious Writing, and really, an article about the rosary isn't the place for snark.

For those of you who have stuck with me for lo these many many months, I appreciate your patience and apparently strange taste in reading matter.

So...what have I been up to? A little of this, a lot of that, and much of the other. Mostly working and things like that. Sadly, not a lot of excitement to speak of--really my only excuse is L-A-Z-Y.

Stay tuned for the Man Seminar and much much more!