tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14779244426094973992024-03-04T23:45:40.345-05:00Filled With LightMel Butterflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10053134266423923637noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1477924442609497399.post-54026147840038441952011-10-27T11:16:00.000-04:002011-10-28T17:20:15.436-04:00I see dead people<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
Halloween is just around the corner and everywhere you look people are decorating their houses with skeletons, pumpkins and other spooky stuff.</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
If you are like me, that makes you ponder one important question a lot more though:</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">How can I be prepared for a zombie apocalypse?</span> </b></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
Lucky enough, the <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)</a> published an article that gives us some pointers.</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
Here is the link: <a href="http://blogs.cdc.gov/publichealthmatters/2011/05/preparedness-101-zombie-apocalypse/">Preparedness 101: Zombie Apocalypse</a></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
Not a bad read, but what happens when you have to take things a step further because the rotting corpses have found your bunker?</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
Here are a few tips that might make a difference in your survival:</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<b>1. </b><b>Dress for the event</b></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
- Long hair is not an option. <br />
Don't be stupid. We all know that zombies like to grab stuff. <br />
And once you and your golden locks are entangled in their hands or teeth </div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
- that's it.<br />
<br />
- Long sleeve shirts will provide warmth and hide bleeding wounds.<br />
You don't want to leave any bloody trails leading the zombies to you.<br />
<br />
- Proper pants are key!<br />
And that means pants that fit and preferably have some side pockets.<br />
Nobody cares if you used to be a ghetto rapper. <br />
Get some cargo jeans that don't hang off your ass because they are </div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
4 sizes too big.<br />
<br />
- Same rule for shoes.<br />
Your Nike's might have cost $300, but if they fly off your feet when you start </div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
running, they are worth nothing. <br />
Get some boots. (No heels - that's for the ladies!)</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<b>2. Flight is better than fight</b></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
- Only fight if you have to.<br />
I know they killed your grandma, but now is not the time to seek revenge.<br />
If you want to live, then don't waste your time and ammunition by taking</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
10 of them out. </div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
You just end up being teared into pieces. Or worse.<br />
<br />
- Stay out of sight.<br />
Hide where you can and make sure they don't see you.<br />
They will only come after you if they know you are there.</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
You can find further details on these tips as well as more info on <a href="http://zombies101.tumblr.com/">Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse</a>.</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
Finally, if nothing helps and you have to fight, this might some valuable advise:</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8kAivpFk8lnG1vs_9MulSXzJ8gRmG75QLbItQ3tL2QHPTca9VKXY71WnabY7j2pgAPJA8SHK1CBlGHmqHH1CGiWsCVvU6ko0RlUT7iEILcIluJuRhPqn7Ir2h2QOBYNulktK2IrUqpoQ/s1600/HowtoKillZombies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="467" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8kAivpFk8lnG1vs_9MulSXzJ8gRmG75QLbItQ3tL2QHPTca9VKXY71WnabY7j2pgAPJA8SHK1CBlGHmqHH1CGiWsCVvU6ko0RlUT7iEILcIluJuRhPqn7Ir2h2QOBYNulktK2IrUqpoQ/s640/HowtoKillZombies.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
Good luck! ;)</div>Mel Butterflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10053134266423923637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1477924442609497399.post-64152611055086934192011-09-08T13:47:00.001-04:002011-09-08T13:50:10.423-04:00Autocorrect fails<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
Do you have an iPhone? Do you hate autocorrect? </div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
I do, but so far it has only being annoying and not embarrassing me...</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
In that context, one of my Facebook friends shared something today that made me laugh my butt off.</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
So I'll share with you as well.. Enjoy. </div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br />
Click here: <a href="http://damnyouautocorrect.com/12032/the-15-funniest-autocorrects-from-august-2011/">The 15 funniest autocorrects from August 2011</a> </div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://damnyouautocorrect.com/images/sold-test.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://damnyouautocorrect.com/images/sold-test.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>One of my favorites..</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
Mel Butterflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10053134266423923637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1477924442609497399.post-59553239249165870622011-09-02T13:02:00.004-04:002014-07-29T06:53:20.035-04:00It's not that hard...We might or might not have a garbage problem at the office.<br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
The details are irrelevant, but it made me send out an email tutorial on how to deal with recycling. </div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
Markus thought it was funny, so that is reason enough for me to share it with you as well. ;)<br />
<br />
(Click and click again on the image to enlarge..)</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFMnWYL8C-Q3m4tYO8YbuPFzVHYvyZOM90fJf93tv72w8K-kFbxu__97xj4VadZPDKJRTrFXy2tEyth2eDjFiNznePE276YwMBzF9vQcU0Jr-gN9-X-acOiHPBk0X9RVrYzinX_vJ63tA/s1600/Recycling+for+Dummies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFMnWYL8C-Q3m4tYO8YbuPFzVHYvyZOM90fJf93tv72w8K-kFbxu__97xj4VadZPDKJRTrFXy2tEyth2eDjFiNznePE276YwMBzF9vQcU0Jr-gN9-X-acOiHPBk0X9RVrYzinX_vJ63tA/s1600/Recycling+for+Dummies.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Mel Butterflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10053134266423923637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1477924442609497399.post-78179580204740701282011-08-23T14:52:00.000-04:002011-08-23T14:52:47.548-04:00Earthquake<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It is in the news: Virgina got hit by an earthquake today.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Now people all over the east coast come forward to tell "their story". </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Including Canadians in Toronto and Niagara Falls.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">People are excited and so I am happy to provide actual footage of the damage caused by this disaster:</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxaQew5Jzs90-Rm-IucinWDKEETFl6AUP3pzYJs16pm15dwU31j8pp5ZSpPfeoliehFNfcsCX5c2v2tw4qSs2reKCDPtYGB5MTUMqhV3MW79b5SqC90yjoYPMMeRfAASAk7lDmuQyxMwZO/s400/earthquake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxaQew5Jzs90-Rm-IucinWDKEETFl6AUP3pzYJs16pm15dwU31j8pp5ZSpPfeoliehFNfcsCX5c2v2tw4qSs2reKCDPtYGB5MTUMqhV3MW79b5SqC90yjoYPMMeRfAASAk7lDmuQyxMwZO/s1600/earthquake.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="right"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Source: http://jmortonmusings.blogspot.com</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">:D</div>Mel Butterflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10053134266423923637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1477924442609497399.post-70775545931161434962011-08-22T15:59:00.001-04:002011-08-22T16:02:48.355-04:00That was not a purchase...<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I love gadgets. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I have a thing for tech toys although so far I haven't gone as crazy as some of the geeks I work with. ;)</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">One of the reasons why I love our iPhone for example, is the fact that it allows me to capture and document the random stupidity of other people.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Below you can find my latest encounter.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But let's see first if you can guess what I am referring to. <br />
So let's play a game called "What is wrong with this picture?"</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCU4iIttUDrCQMLSlKYZk_UgD2Sl2ncRswHhD8Ud9qiibX60lpX8Obs4qxVXC6eb-EL5PCUrwRNh2SXuPF2AWjNru4TATJTva6k8R1sgrV2jI6l-qbQEqG0OL9uHAdLdBWL3kri-EF2TI/s1600/Playground.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCU4iIttUDrCQMLSlKYZk_UgD2Sl2ncRswHhD8Ud9qiibX60lpX8Obs4qxVXC6eb-EL5PCUrwRNh2SXuPF2AWjNru4TATJTva6k8R1sgrV2jI6l-qbQEqG0OL9uHAdLdBWL3kri-EF2TI/s400/Playground.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>What doesn't belong here...?</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This is the playground close to our house. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Seems normal? Nothing out of the ordinary?</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">- Look closer!</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Can you see it now? </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkccOf2WBaPY2dLqrFxkssWpRm9V5A0JMaU8DODyUnQ15FW8wls3H7L22IEWu-1o8pEyRao-D3mkB-QdQksHFLtf3LQMcYnLCZ8vs8474YRkP3N73Ci4FVaCtgg23yreC8qSm_zjVap1A/s1600/mall_buggy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkccOf2WBaPY2dLqrFxkssWpRm9V5A0JMaU8DODyUnQ15FW8wls3H7L22IEWu-1o8pEyRao-D3mkB-QdQksHFLtf3LQMcYnLCZ8vs8474YRkP3N73Ci4FVaCtgg23yreC8qSm_zjVap1A/s1600/mall_buggy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Not a stroller!</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This is a <a href="http://www.smartecarte.com/commercial-strollers">mall buggy</a> - not a stroller. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In case you have never seen one before - they work like this:</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">You deposit x dollar and then you are allowed to use the buggy while shopping in the mall or store you got it from.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So basically it is a rental. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">You DON'T BUY it by inserting your money. YOU HAVE TO GIVE IT BACK!</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Nonetheless, I found this one at our playground the other day and you know what? </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I know the mall that it is coming from and it is 2 miles away! </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Someone actually went through the hassle to push the buggy with its tiny wheels all the way to this playground.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Amazing.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Well of course, now you could argue that maybe the people who did that are just really poor and don't have the money to buy a real stroller...or that there might be a similar "good" reason to steal the buggy... Cause you never know, right?</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Right? Wrong!</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">A few minutes later the new "owners" came back to get the buggy and go home.. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And guess what?</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The child riding in the buggy was at least 10 years old and I've seen him playing soccer with his friends before his mom came to get the buggy. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So he is not handicapped or too small to walk.. he is just plain lazy.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivWnl0LOvzaYB_iKyBO7Jp67Ow3zKE4VbkdeX7NiTimdbBobjap8SbYUBEOwwRUem-1AlzFKecaiddnH9uqRk-Wx24Y4g7zJsenFN6BMzkHJL2GfbIFJFrkCcvDkzKOPVWgCASZQSFxb0/s1600/mall_buggy2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivWnl0LOvzaYB_iKyBO7Jp67Ow3zKE4VbkdeX7NiTimdbBobjap8SbYUBEOwwRUem-1AlzFKecaiddnH9uqRk-Wx24Y4g7zJsenFN6BMzkHJL2GfbIFJFrkCcvDkzKOPVWgCASZQSFxb0/s1600/mall_buggy2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Classy ride home</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Morons.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div>Mel Butterflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10053134266423923637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1477924442609497399.post-79823383859492748232011-08-17T14:25:00.000-04:002011-08-17T14:25:33.832-04:00Car sale - Part 2<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Let me start this with just saying that by now we have sold the van.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But it was nothing short of being a pain in the butt.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">There are just too many idiots who know how to click the "Send" button on their email. *sigh*</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I don't even want to get into the morons we had to deal with, but to finish this chapter I have one more thing to show you.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
Here is one of last favorites who had been interested in the van. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">He emailed Markus with an "exclusive" offer that we "needed" to consider.<br />
Basically he sent us the link to his ad:</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUTYNgb2C3n97TvM9guxwtNWMiL3amiD8gHuYKh8p1E_dNoP2Cm-eHIIULuXh1fd6GwFMj8y__oGAWW2lpCW55ZcmQ2_zY76BN3sa4ih4ivD3mbQFmG3fJUb049jS9uOfrgDyyiKzHSFI/s1600/trade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUTYNgb2C3n97TvM9guxwtNWMiL3amiD8gHuYKh8p1E_dNoP2Cm-eHIIULuXh1fd6GwFMj8y__oGAWW2lpCW55ZcmQ2_zY76BN3sa4ih4ivD3mbQFmG3fJUb049jS9uOfrgDyyiKzHSFI/s400/trade.jpg" width="389" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;">Just a note:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;">Wayne Gretzky is not dead. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;">Why he would believe that <b>one </b>shirt is worth $1100 when I can still get Gretzky's autographs today, is beyond me. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;">We politely declined his offer. :D </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div>Mel Butterflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10053134266423923637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1477924442609497399.post-19352654613438222092011-07-29T15:41:00.004-04:002014-07-29T06:45:50.699-04:00Car sale<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
We are currently trying to sell our van and I thought this was going to be a straightforward thing: Advertise on Craigslist and other online sources, respond to emails & phone calls and schedule appointments so that people can come and check it out.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
Of course, we were anticipating the one or two odd questions since we have dealt with Craigslist sales before and people just tend to not read the ad the properly.</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
We were not prepared however for the interesting & hilarious folks that we have been encountered so far.</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
Here are the highlights of 4 weeks into it:</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
1. French invasion:</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
Five French students/temporary workers were interested in buying the van to make a road trip to the other end of the country. </div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
Two of them came to check everything out and to take photos. </div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
The pics were then sent off to the rest of the group in France for review. </div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
After several emails (and probably a web conference - who knows!) they decided against the purchase though.</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
2. The scammer:</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
We got an email from a guy who is living 80 km away.</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
He was willing to pay the asking price, but we would have to take the car to him.</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
He claimed since he is working full time he has no time to come down and pick up the car himself.</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
My alarm bells went off when I heard that he was willing to buy the car unseen. </div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
Who does that?</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
Markus was concerned that the guy would try to start negotiations once we went there.</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
But all went downhill when we started to discuss the payment.</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
The guy said he was only willing to pay via personal cheque or a debit transfer.</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
Both transactions are reversible so we declined and told him that we only accept cash, a certified cheque or a money order - basically, guaranteed funds.</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
We never heard from the guy again.</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
3. Africa is calling:</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
The next prospect was planning on taking the van even farther. </div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
He wanted to buy the car to export it to Nigeria.</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
Which was fine by us as long as he pays us first.. ;)</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
He was willing to pay the asking price however required a "minor favor" in return:<br />
Since we were not "willing" to let him have our license plates nor allow him to drive on our car insurance, he wanted Markus to drive with him to a port 2400 km away since it is cheaper to ship cars to Africa from there.</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
When Markus asked him on the phone if he was serious, he just responded: <br />
"What's the big deal? It will just take us a day. Just take the day off from work..."</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
Ehm.. no thanks...</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
4. The illiterate:</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
This guy just sent us an email with this text:<br />
<br />
"Can I more pictures of inside of tires interior?"</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
So what did he want? Pics of the interior? Or the tires? Or the inside of the tires?<br />
We were confused, but he never enlightened us...</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
5. Special accessories:</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
I saved the best for last since this is my absolute favorite.</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
This guy was planning on driving the car in South America and so he asked the obvious question: </div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
"Does it come with a toilet?"</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
I nearly fell off the chair laughing. ;)</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
Mel Butterflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10053134266423923637noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1477924442609497399.post-7574772394607511162011-07-28T10:16:00.000-04:002011-10-28T17:20:27.894-04:00Zombie vs. Baby<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqVKCnkyToAlVOvYkdIGO8eoAXhxY9AKmafWLnwfWy9Vu7Eg8Wq7xi7iA9a5erBiIEj34ja0quImPt1xNXGbNEMWgCL2-RWs2QJMNZk1CCUepU67lMpwzGWUUJqyff5rHL2RtJMG6F5m4/s1600/vHLx5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqVKCnkyToAlVOvYkdIGO8eoAXhxY9AKmafWLnwfWy9Vu7Eg8Wq7xi7iA9a5erBiIEj34ja0quImPt1xNXGbNEMWgCL2-RWs2QJMNZk1CCUepU67lMpwzGWUUJqyff5rHL2RtJMG6F5m4/s1600/vHLx5.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
Does this look familiar? lol</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I am so glad we are slowly getting out of that stage.. ;)</span>Mel Butterflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10053134266423923637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1477924442609497399.post-42795627308748016142011-07-27T14:37:00.000-04:002011-07-27T14:37:52.078-04:00XOXO<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Ace is a very affectionate boy. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">He loves to cuddle with both of us, he snuggles up every night and he also likes to give hugs. You might even get a pat on the shoulder! lol</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">He is not very big into kisses though.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">When I ask him for a kiss, there is a 50/50 chance for me to get one. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Quite often, he will shake his head and say "No!". </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I accept that because I don't want to force anything on him. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">If he doesn't want to do it, I respect that.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It happens even less that he will come by himself to offer a kiss. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It's a rare treat and makes me feel special.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">A couple of days ago though, Ace and I were chilling on the bed and I was holding him.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Suddenly he sat up and looked at me, then came forward and gave me a big kiss. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It was a surprise and we both smiled.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">He can't say the words yet, but I sure felt very loved at this moment. :)</span>Mel Butterflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10053134266423923637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1477924442609497399.post-13878466289574510612011-06-08T10:09:00.000-04:002014-07-29T06:52:23.825-04:00Celebrations<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
This weekend has been very special for us since it was June 4th again.</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
Time for celebration x 2.</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
Saturday was our 3rd wedding anniversary. :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
But of course it was also Ace's 2nd birthday.</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
With Markus' parents in town, we had decided against a big party but just opted for coffee and cake at home.</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibOf_rxCBW5ISsqm7FbDiHTwRr3QM35e0i9c81uKl7a53PHc0MXzZlTTyRs03C9yulSxc6IIp4F_U3dTfRTNCBUQhikdtG6qDv0nSvPLqQUwK6wYyHbjX51LURU5hC0CU_lm3WfAcK6qI/s1600/Birthday+Boy_sml.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibOf_rxCBW5ISsqm7FbDiHTwRr3QM35e0i9c81uKl7a53PHc0MXzZlTTyRs03C9yulSxc6IIp4F_U3dTfRTNCBUQhikdtG6qDv0nSvPLqQUwK6wYyHbjX51LURU5hC0CU_lm3WfAcK6qI/s400/Birthday+Boy_sml.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Checking out the cake...</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
This year Ace got the idea of blowing out a candle and did his best, but in the end he needed some help from mom and grandma. ;)<br />
(No worries Ace, we made a wish for you on your behalf.. ;))</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br />
Then it was time to unwrap the presents...<br />
Let me just say: He got a lot of Duplo. ;)</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
Eventually it was cake time and since it was Key Lime Cake, Markus was in heaven <i>[insert angel trumpets here]</i>, however Ace did not care.</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
He just picked at his slice for a minute, but didn't even want to eat one bite.</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
Finally he handed me the plate and asked for an orange instead.</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
This child is hilarious! </div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
Mel Butterflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10053134266423923637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1477924442609497399.post-57741507535787642802011-05-20T15:42:00.000-04:002011-05-20T15:42:28.896-04:00Birthday gift<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-CA</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267"> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0cm;
mso-para-margin-right:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0cm;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style> <![endif]--> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">When you love reading or have a thing for books in general, you might face this challenge:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">How to decide what to read. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_YJz6_AYxh7FtCOjep8xpRm8IazzaQJV802LDM1yKPGJMBsv-7ITrCBbZL_OCDbXd-mTi7yeZb7v4vw4AgDBcx1nZfjopomGYFEa9u22H08XVDUWUQ3pQEUNGnTvECsPY_wNDTXL1roc/s1600/Mel_LE.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_YJz6_AYxh7FtCOjep8xpRm8IazzaQJV802LDM1yKPGJMBsv-7ITrCBbZL_OCDbXd-mTi7yeZb7v4vw4AgDBcx1nZfjopomGYFEa9u22H08XVDUWUQ3pQEUNGnTvECsPY_wNDTXL1roc/s1600/Mel_LE.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>True liking of myself</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And if you end up reading two (or more books) at the same time, you are always torn which one to take for the commute to/from work – cause we all know: There is just never enough space in the bag/purse – not to speak of the weight issue…</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So, last week was my birthday and I have to say Markus nailed it on the head with this year’s birthday gift.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">He bought me a Kindle.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSJRaTi1_yaiNUmQXjyIZ8YweSym_R4YG1923Qpays4oj0oGPDCZA" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSJRaTi1_yaiNUmQXjyIZ8YweSym_R4YG1923Qpays4oj0oGPDCZA" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I absolutely love it. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I feel it is best invention since sliced bread when it comes to reading. <br />
It is so light, but holds up to 2500 books and it actually reads like the pages in a real book. <br />
You don’t feel you are looking at a screen. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Awesomeness.</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span>Mel Butterflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10053134266423923637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1477924442609497399.post-2653992492853615402011-04-29T16:15:00.006-04:002011-04-29T16:31:22.433-04:00Royal wedding or what not to wear<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Hello world!</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It's a joyous day because it's the day of the royal wedding. <br />
Prince William finally married his Kate (who is now automatically the Duchess of Cambridge, the Countess of Strathearn and the Baroness of Carrickfergus - in case you were wondering). </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge2AoMpzQKx_3quMl9nv4R9T-pnT5ghUYv2QHXewBc98eXElnmlzs3caBJJm6Ku78O3TyWjXavXZF6scYIS8FELD9tyx9lWVn6kFNXG290wjS-t-vCckaHlRaywhdxQw2MZ8SnVp07JLQ/s1600/ap_kate__william_standing_church_nt_110429_wg.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge2AoMpzQKx_3quMl9nv4R9T-pnT5ghUYv2QHXewBc98eXElnmlzs3caBJJm6Ku78O3TyWjXavXZF6scYIS8FELD9tyx9lWVn6kFNXG290wjS-t-vCckaHlRaywhdxQw2MZ8SnVp07JLQ/s400/ap_kate__william_standing_church_nt_110429_wg.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Leaving the church...</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I know that lots of people couldn't care less, but I have a soft spot for that kind of thing. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">At the office we even had a team breakfast in honor of the newly weds and that we also got some <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mimosa_%28cocktail%29">mimosas</a> to get through the work day lifted the spirit even more.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So congratulations, William and Kate. I hope you will have a successful life together. :)</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDKGeuYBxiK2XCE72i8rdZbAfP6j8Hh7DOSIRsrS4u9Bsz99wLowUG90IVlhKiWdhFJaY3FwlQxX-KVcYxihJeWRJDDPwK9y84EMC53us0ldZ-JAJa17I4GsbdIyot3xUblxgQDSf2hrQ/s1600/Prince-William-Kate-Middleton-Wedding-Invitation-Revealed-1.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDKGeuYBxiK2XCE72i8rdZbAfP6j8Hh7DOSIRsrS4u9Bsz99wLowUG90IVlhKiWdhFJaY3FwlQxX-KVcYxihJeWRJDDPwK9y84EMC53us0ldZ-JAJa17I4GsbdIyot3xUblxgQDSf2hrQ/s320/Prince-William-Kate-Middleton-Wedding-Invitation-Revealed-1.bmp" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>My favorite picture of the two.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Having that said, it's time to take a look at the wedding guests (since everybody only seems to talk about how lovely Kate's wedding dress is). </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Let's see if we can spot the ones having an issue with not being in the spotlight (or so it seems if you look at their attention-seeking outfits) and those that should be mentioned for other reasons.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">First up we have this photo: Carole Middleton (Kate's mother), Queen Elizabeth and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Carole looks pretty good to be honest.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The Queen could make a nicer face, I think, but it is really Camilla who draws my attention here. While the colors she chose for her gown are not "that" bad, I feel the hat is a bit unfortunate. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Her facial expression is worse though. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Oh Camilla, why can I never see a photo of you with a normal smile? </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">You always look as if you are about to pass a kidney stone...</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS5-7BNq-oLnusmDAQMV5K0vvR-m55TZfn3GIOYAY-xUd82AZvAi9-rK63vIgjMw_EYEEkA4NSL0AGBB4DvdiYAMxVciO4bwVJEmkPiyzLs4FXx_FdcAxfoZHfifl8TFQdEP2MtMk5Yj0/s1600/queenelizabeth519x625.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS5-7BNq-oLnusmDAQMV5K0vvR-m55TZfn3GIOYAY-xUd82AZvAi9-rK63vIgjMw_EYEEkA4NSL0AGBB4DvdiYAMxVciO4bwVJEmkPiyzLs4FXx_FdcAxfoZHfifl8TFQdEP2MtMk5Yj0/s400/queenelizabeth519x625.jpg" width="331" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Pastel rules or what?</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Next, please!</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Here we have Miriam Gonzalez Durantez, the wife of Britain's Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg. Apparently she couldn't decide what to wear because she is sporting a turban-ish head scarf AND that giant red flower on her head. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6phDYYmojpHGYJtPi0kPRlLQSXaVfopu9ENKhutQvmSfeFTizqMKX6Op6wBNuz90r3wIVeP7JzxDu-9wHIJIgzIvE3CtlPYKX2B32dakBR6g4_QSvpUSoUZDjJTna53kuRCqc7s4j9FM/s1600/gonzalez.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6phDYYmojpHGYJtPi0kPRlLQSXaVfopu9ENKhutQvmSfeFTizqMKX6Op6wBNuz90r3wIVeP7JzxDu-9wHIJIgzIvE3CtlPYKX2B32dakBR6g4_QSvpUSoUZDjJTna53kuRCqc7s4j9FM/s400/gonzalez.jpg" width="252" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I am sure humming birds would find her attractive...</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Zara Phillips, the eldest granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth, opted for a different head gear. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">To me it looks like a combination of satellite dish meets gift wrap ribbon and I am wondering if she is secretly trying to send a signal to aliens with that thing.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJkcPdBC2tsP9rbL6udMjZAiLibeCJxuuUuXkGJ3O2RGfPczkAnr4l73uvA6nTgQqqTPng74SLvahFv0Nd16KqrVGaF8sp5o0RDLiDSnwuFjIvKs4GjyXTWVKDVYe9SiqCdyfbCjeQvLY/s1600/zara2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJkcPdBC2tsP9rbL6udMjZAiLibeCJxuuUuXkGJ3O2RGfPczkAnr4l73uvA6nTgQqqTPng74SLvahFv0Nd16KqrVGaF8sp5o0RDLiDSnwuFjIvKs4GjyXTWVKDVYe9SiqCdyfbCjeQvLY/s400/zara2.jpg" width="251" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Bigger is not always better.</i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I have saved the best for last and since I could not decide which photo to use I will just show both.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Those two ladies are Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice, daughters of Prince Andrew.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Their dresses: Really ugly... those bows and ornaments make it look like as if they had pulled the clothes out of grandma's closet.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The real kicker are their hats though. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Eugenie's blue "hat" with this flowery thing and those feathers standing up high make her look like a futuristic flight attendant working on a space ship.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">My favorite is Beatrice's "hat" though. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I mean what the heck was she thinking when she chose that thing? </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">If Zara is trying to send messages to outer space, Beatrice must surely be able to receive some.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">An alternative explanation would be that both, Eugenie and Beatrice, are already space aliens and that is their traditional head gear. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Take me to your leader, girls.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_GbsLD9j5Tj3aBZe_YPW6es-5713-6R3y8v5Ki7S_NYDFfeMPbvbN946jfp1QKjquQnFMTuZmvPoMbubuqrRdFtR1NIYiAxqboonw_GZKlR3m1yg_20HsBSxiA9E8zKeXrBu1DbhEUVw/s1600/221948_198168023551618_177858672249220_452010_6718628_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_GbsLD9j5Tj3aBZe_YPW6es-5713-6R3y8v5Ki7S_NYDFfeMPbvbN946jfp1QKjquQnFMTuZmvPoMbubuqrRdFtR1NIYiAxqboonw_GZKlR3m1yg_20HsBSxiA9E8zKeXrBu1DbhEUVw/s400/221948_198168023551618_177858672249220_452010_6718628_n.jpg" width="278" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Their facial expressions are not helping...</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqIVMVeebhSMgLJMLYxA0445I8X8EHRhWXjx2fPvCWuZwoCyHXxmJgUpJaHElVjPvhr8CnnvEgxfrxccaswmpEUlvNNqPnvjaSe6dfgjQPYNijSzdRAgPZ4Y7xFOeTDSKuEtQF7BqtJto/s1600/princess-beatrice-435.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqIVMVeebhSMgLJMLYxA0445I8X8EHRhWXjx2fPvCWuZwoCyHXxmJgUpJaHElVjPvhr8CnnvEgxfrxccaswmpEUlvNNqPnvjaSe6dfgjQPYNijSzdRAgPZ4Y7xFOeTDSKuEtQF7BqtJto/s400/princess-beatrice-435.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Warning: This head gear is not suited for driving.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div>Mel Butterflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10053134266423923637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1477924442609497399.post-4706340571533475052011-04-27T14:35:00.000-04:002014-07-29T06:46:33.968-04:00Easter<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
I hope everybody had a good Easter!</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
We were planning on hiding some eggs for Ace in our apartment but unfortunately he got sick and was not feeling well at all on Sunday.</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
Nonetheless he had a few good moments so we managed to do the Easter thing and snap a few pics.</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQQuMQ81O4tD7M3td3tmvfOW3lbLrtFFKDqKutfeFHrK62KZx3riTw3-u_MZhzkSF4570erzmd9ajXo7UN6xHcPLW7EI0xGK36TWu1jJvMeLfKPmmg38Z-1BYiqvCOUDvzy_8ZDbC-igY/s1600/IMG_0106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQQuMQ81O4tD7M3td3tmvfOW3lbLrtFFKDqKutfeFHrK62KZx3riTw3-u_MZhzkSF4570erzmd9ajXo7UN6xHcPLW7EI0xGK36TWu1jJvMeLfKPmmg38Z-1BYiqvCOUDvzy_8ZDbC-igY/s400/IMG_0106.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghw32SRXbibA7f92OchvWFTY-GE7LicZsfdQeF16iYB014Ga6jMQ65KPm34vjIG59JvFeum-5Pw7_FlCLTqxIGAbHSRAx3VpHhoa1i1hCrGfLCu1u8YC3Yq4_ENnJ5cSbIvUCykDlFSXQ/s1600/IMG_0193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghw32SRXbibA7f92OchvWFTY-GE7LicZsfdQeF16iYB014Ga6jMQ65KPm34vjIG59JvFeum-5Pw7_FlCLTqxIGAbHSRAx3VpHhoa1i1hCrGfLCu1u8YC3Yq4_ENnJ5cSbIvUCykDlFSXQ/s400/IMG_0193.JPG" height="281" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA-AINfx0-KKz7g_8sxuVHQ03OF7rEHrCaDKqp5XN9VIVs1PXxJkTTcvOChV81zxIcVSxthPN-mPA75l9_RkZvR3d9eKoKPxww1gHGqOwWWTs8gkxuRZGvIK20_NkZSB74mtN8Y7Ae24g/s1600/IMG_0224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA-AINfx0-KKz7g_8sxuVHQ03OF7rEHrCaDKqp5XN9VIVs1PXxJkTTcvOChV81zxIcVSxthPN-mPA75l9_RkZvR3d9eKoKPxww1gHGqOwWWTs8gkxuRZGvIK20_NkZSB74mtN8Y7Ae24g/s400/IMG_0224.JPG" height="286" width="400" /></a> </div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
Mel Butterflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10053134266423923637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1477924442609497399.post-46068455132414393972011-04-25T15:36:00.000-04:002011-04-25T15:36:20.909-04:00Sporty<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">When we went to the gym on Saturday, I might have been able to catch a glimpse into the future. Our fitness center offers MMA classes for all ages and while we were working out, I was able to watch their Junior Grappling class. They had a group of about a dozen kids there - ages 5 to 8 years. Most of them were boys, but I could also see 2 girls. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Watching those kids - especially the young boys - made me wonder what Ace will be into in a couple of years. He is so full of energy already that I have no doubt that he will be doing something active. But what might it be? </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Naturally our family enjoys soccer, but Markus also likes to watch American Football as well as UFC and boxing on TV. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We both run and before Ace we have been known to swing the tennis racket on a regular basis.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Markus really likes cycling and I enjoy inline skating (despite the fact that I haven't been doing it a lot in the past years.. ). </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But of course, there are still a ton of other sports Ace could get into. (I just hope it won't be lacrosse - it looks too much like butterfly hunters gone wild. :P) </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0CT9KkNdKui3kshlU4FuHxGyVQ7n3Ylk8ZfV1o_iOAxHW5AA30EXyYzzT0dBDb-XRFyhpHiTUpbJpGLigp2dCsn29ftTdnpYHS1TAgI8YtvCuz74K3eCebzY1ecaRZjXHkaWN5MOz4UA/s1600/lacrosse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0CT9KkNdKui3kshlU4FuHxGyVQ7n3Ylk8ZfV1o_iOAxHW5AA30EXyYzzT0dBDb-XRFyhpHiTUpbJpGLigp2dCsn29ftTdnpYHS1TAgI8YtvCuz74K3eCebzY1ecaRZjXHkaWN5MOz4UA/s320/lacrosse.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Lacrosse - Too many nets if you ask me.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I can't wait to find out what he will like... :)</span>Mel Butterflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10053134266423923637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1477924442609497399.post-51653182250017795382011-04-22T16:31:00.001-04:002011-04-22T16:39:00.839-04:00Kiddie TV can be weird<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Ace loves watching TV.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">You can count on it: As soon as we get home from work/daycare in the evening, you will hear his "Tibi! Tibi!"- chant and our little guy will hand us the remote control so that he can watch an episode of his favorite TV shows.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Currently he is into Curious George, Caillou and The Cat in the Hat.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Occasionally he'll also watch Sesame Street or Barney. But not that often.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Markus and I have a love/hate relationship with most of the shows.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I mean I can't deny that we can use them to our advantage. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In the mornings for example. Ace is so not a morning person. Getting him ready for daycare can be such a struggle and the last thing I need at 7 am is whining and crying. But if you turn on Curious George he'll be fine. And before he knows it, he is completely dressed and actually feels pretty good... awake and ready to conquer the world.. So he'll tell Markus "Bye bye", blows him a kiss.. and off we go.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It works in similar fashion if we need to make a phone call without having him yell into our ear or if I need to clean the bathroom with bleach.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">On the other hand, sometimes these shows are really hard to stand.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Here are my (and Markus') random thoughts:</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>Curious George:</b></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">What is wrong with the man with the yellow hat?</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Why doesn't he even have a name? - All the other characters have one! <br />
Including (my "favorite") Professor Pizza. (Really?)</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And what's up with this obession for yellow?</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But more importantly: How can he be so irresponsible? </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">He lets George do what he wants or gives him tasks that will set the monkey up for failure. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">He expects too much.. I mean come on: It is a monkey! </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRkZhSMNjd5Og1yNUnfbpP-rLcQnKqtRxeO4JczuU1DyPf4QWG9zyTjltI5F54k1A1iQjka7CvwW0UEdBYE-SOBTrXs14P-DHEOwXInCogBKVG1xyl8sk3Bag6YKEKSQ9kNhuAq6Y-4co/s1600/george.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRkZhSMNjd5Og1yNUnfbpP-rLcQnKqtRxeO4JczuU1DyPf4QWG9zyTjltI5F54k1A1iQjka7CvwW0UEdBYE-SOBTrXs14P-DHEOwXInCogBKVG1xyl8sk3Bag6YKEKSQ9kNhuAq6Y-4co/s200/george.jpg" width="190" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>For once a picture without the hat...</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>Caillou:</b> </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">OMG - just stop whining already! I have no idea why Caillou's mom hasn't wacked him over the head already. Or maybe she has and that's why he is bold? I mean at 4 years old? Isn't that weird? I'd see a doctor.. but nobody in that family seems to be concerned.. so I guess they know something I don't...</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8f5jTtTlP4mDLhcfeKus0trLD4dxIzkTRevB1tcvz66O0ZN-d237kCUrUUEcm2tSnQBNjH_D-D_GRtgc6P1tkd_vFTHBmoyYPBs1jaP9eYBKP5HXRxlwBt9AfNfzl0c3j40qN14Z18I/s1600/caillou.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8f5jTtTlP4mDLhcfeKus0trLD4dxIzkTRevB1tcvz66O0ZN-d237kCUrUUEcm2tSnQBNjH_D-D_GRtgc6P1tkd_vFTHBmoyYPBs1jaP9eYBKP5HXRxlwBt9AfNfzl0c3j40qN14Z18I/s200/caillou.gif" width="151" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Don't be fooled: He is just trying to hide the boldness.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But you know, I can't condemn the parenting Caillou's family does in general, cause they show admirable amount of patience with their kids. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">However, I have observed some things that I find questionable. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">For example, in one episode Caillou and his dad go for a run.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Remember, Caillou is 4, so obviously his legs are a lot shorter than his father's.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I can't say that Dad cared a lot though. He runs off and is ahead without even thinking to ask if Caillou is okay and can keep up. Kind of inconsiderate.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Eventually they have enough and decide to make their way back to the house. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Dad encourages Caillou with a "Last one at the house is a rotten egg!" </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Ehm.. yeah.. sure.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Caillou's friend's parents aren't doing much better though:</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Caillou is at his first sleepover and gets homesick. He wants to go home.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">His friend's mom suggests helpfully to have dinner first and see how he feels afterward. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">OK, fine. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">At dinner then, Caillou repeats that he wants to go home and mom pulls an amazing idea out of her ass: "Why don't you guys eat as fast as you can, so that you can finish your plates and have dessert? I'm sure you'll feel better then."</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Nice.. Let's teach our kids how they can suffocate their emotions with food while they are still in Pre-K! I am sure this way they'll get a future eating disorder for free as well! Yay! - Not... :(</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>Sesame Street:</b></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I still have to see an entire episode, but there is always one part that creeps the heck out of me: Elmo's World.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">First of all the entire scenery... kind of weird all this crayon scribble.. but whatever.. if they like their designers to smoke while work.. Fine. :P</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">What's really bugging me though is Mr. Noodle. He is such a weirdo! He gives me the creeps.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrqqoR1yZDa2oZ7uuvdi_IdzcbPeJqnPHvnHMxH-AkK9Pf6Rs63RllgqBfMvK26U60-3YMyDbZnZtvsyxQ6J88DOhaXUA_6-a7C5cPRn0ATyJJBDkQKN4WfAourY-I5V61zTtIxkC2ox0/s1600/mrnoddle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrqqoR1yZDa2oZ7uuvdi_IdzcbPeJqnPHvnHMxH-AkK9Pf6Rs63RllgqBfMvK26U60-3YMyDbZnZtvsyxQ6J88DOhaXUA_6-a7C5cPRn0ATyJJBDkQKN4WfAourY-I5V61zTtIxkC2ox0/s200/mrnoddle.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Creepy guy aka Mr. Noodle</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And now recently I discovered he also has a brother - equally strange! Ugh! </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I feel uncomfortable just watching them.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">(And worse: I just found out you can book Mr. Noddle for your kid's birthday party: <a href="http://www.charitybuzz.com/auctions/RCDS08/catalog_items/83810">http://www.charitybuzz.com/auctions/RCDS08/catalog_items/83810</a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">AH! SO not happening!)</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">There is one show I absolutely adore though: <b>The Cat in the Hat</b>!</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I love it. So educational. The stories are so sweet and the characters are singing in nearly every episode. I could watch that show all the time. I might even learn something myself! Ha!</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmw84gOLP4_4T4i1iqWt6KdwClMXyoOW6H4jn0QyjILdL3SJpjEhumBAnT3PnwL3_CP_3Famgpor9Q5sJFx5DGleBgVULvudVlXwxPc4vtAcwkIpMtA2klaFAnQ6fw8dXSRQBhqcQyj5A/s1600/character_cat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmw84gOLP4_4T4i1iqWt6KdwClMXyoOW6H4jn0QyjILdL3SJpjEhumBAnT3PnwL3_CP_3Famgpor9Q5sJFx5DGleBgVULvudVlXwxPc4vtAcwkIpMtA2klaFAnQ6fw8dXSRQBhqcQyj5A/s200/character_cat.jpg" width="141" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Always in a good mood: The cat</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But of course Ace has his own ideas of what he wants to watch.. so I can only suggest Dr. Seuss' creations - in the hope he feels more like talking cats and fish instead of monkeys that sell ice cream or ride the subway.. ;)</div>Mel Butterflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10053134266423923637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1477924442609497399.post-55222775624291346242011-03-25T09:06:00.001-04:002011-03-25T09:07:31.499-04:00Toddler brain<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Most of us know this already: When you become a parent a lot of things will change and life becomes more interesting. <br />
<br />
Ah, no kidding, eh? <br />
For example (and I have mentioned this before), most moms experience (suffer from?) some kind of "mommy brain". So do I. <br />
As a consequence us moms have to write everything down or we will forget it. Instantly. <br />
<br />
Here is an example:<br />
The local supermarket around the corner from my office is currently running a promotion where you get a free coffee with your purchase. When you pay for your goods the cashier will ask you if you want one, so that she can put it into her system. <br />
Of course I don't say No to that. (I mean it's FREE coffee!)<br />
Too bad that last time, I had already forgotten about my free coffee the second I had put away my credit card. So I grabbed my bag and left the store. <br />
I realized this 2 hours later by the way. <br />
<br />
Why is this happening? <br />
- Because there is so much going on in our mommy brains. <br />
<br />
Mine basically looks like this:<br />
<br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFAvLMAj2BASMdK9wV9cZQYNYL6jqcCWuWUhh8yeyk7UCn3bseicRKP8mHPz2thWuB-F9JXwNxBZ3S-SdSjpzUdDwGbnmVw8CYP4iEpJUDJ_gEMci8-s16-f7px6ZNgaj1uC_4u5MtGU/s1600/BRAIN+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFAvLMAj2BASMdK9wV9cZQYNYL6jqcCWuWUhh8yeyk7UCn3bseicRKP8mHPz2thWuB-F9JXwNxBZ3S-SdSjpzUdDwGbnmVw8CYP4iEpJUDJ_gEMci8-s16-f7px6ZNgaj1uC_4u5MtGU/s320/BRAIN+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Yep, there is a lot happening here...</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">During the day I am basically hopping from one thought to the next. (No wonder I am always so tired at the end of the day.. lol)</span><br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">That I always have a lot on my plate at work doesn't help either. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So I am always carrying a notepad around wherever I go. That does the trick for me.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Enough said about that though because what I discovered in the past week is that our counterparts have similar "issues" - only they don't really care that much.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">What I am talking about is this: Toddler brain.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Since the kiddos don't think about it and have no worries, it must look pretty much like this:</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPLmulwwDVTS_xrxVyYR5gQSmZcs0g_T5bdAn9ZBZ9xwK_cO4xCI30kSB2Ka4NqmI6wob2_zZYdrU-J6dTjpyMotBnxF8AkfHsqz71-GMmc5qblDsNgz9Z3NBQVZz2pgxAOB0si3KYEFg/s1600/BRAIN+2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPLmulwwDVTS_xrxVyYR5gQSmZcs0g_T5bdAn9ZBZ9xwK_cO4xCI30kSB2Ka4NqmI6wob2_zZYdrU-J6dTjpyMotBnxF8AkfHsqz71-GMmc5qblDsNgz9Z3NBQVZz2pgxAOB0si3KYEFg/s320/BRAIN+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Don't be fooled by the cuteness... </i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
Just imagine it going a 100 miles per hour. <br />
For 12 hours straight.<br />
<br />
Of course this gives them plenty of opportunities to come up with crazy ideas on how to entertain themselves.<br />
<br />
Ace's new favorite:<br />
Sticking objects into body cavities.<br />
It started with un-eaten pieces of carrot in his ears. Now he has moved on to corn kernels up in his nose.<br />
The latter he tried for the first time on the weekend.<br />
We had microwaved popcorn as a snack while watching TV and he decided to grab the bag to help himself. Suddenly it got quiet and we knew one of two things were happening:<br />
1. He got tired or 2. He was up to something.<br />
Of course it was number 2.<br />
He had grabbed the corn kernels that hadn't popped and stuck one into each nostril. <br />
<br />
Great. Exactly what you need on a Sunday night at 11.15 pm.<br />
<br />
We started to think about heading to the ER, when we got lucky. One just fell out and the other one Ace was able to dig out himself. Phew.. good for us.<br />
No 3 hour wait at the hospital.<br />
<br />
Well, fast forward to last night. <br />
You know how kids always find everything?<br />
Well, of course we didn't give Ace any popcorn bags anymore, but he still managed to find a single corn kernel somewhere... and of course he stuck it up his nose.<br />
No panic on our side here as we had already been through this before, but when an hour passed and the thing still had not come out I got a tiny bit nervous. <br />
It didn't help that Ace didn't want to cooperate and declined to blow his nose. :/<br />
Eventually I ran out of options, so I did what I always do when I don't know anymore:<br />
I ask Google. (Mommy brain's best friend!)<br />
And I was not disappointed cause apparently there is a CPR-like technique you can try before heading frantically to the ER.<br />
(Read here for more info: <a href="http://cackle-loud.xanga.com/698962434/cackle-psa-how-to-get-that-thing-out-of-your-kids-nose/">How to get that thing out of your kid's nose</a>)<br />
<br />
Long story short: <br />
I got lucky cause Ace thought this was a game where mommy gives kisses so he had fun and was holding still. <br />
2 min later that damn thing popped out and passed my cheek with lightning speed while I ended up with toddler snot on my face.<br />
But you know what - I could not have been happier in that moment. The kernel was ginormous. No clue how he even managed to get that in. <br />
<br />
I can't wait to find out what he will come up with next.... :P<br />
<br />
</div>Mel Butterflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10053134266423923637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1477924442609497399.post-5018004030073400272011-03-18T14:50:00.000-04:002011-03-18T14:50:34.637-04:00First day of spring<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Hello, hello! </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Yes, I am still here... life has just been busy again and didn't really leave me any time to blog. But I am back and I bring good news:</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Spring is here.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">My fellow readers, we actually made it. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Winter is officially coming to an end because yesterday was the first day of spring. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Right on St. Patrick's Day, I was wearing my greenest t-shirt and went for a walk around lunch time cause it was just so nice outside. And it actually got better. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">9 pm last night and we had 14 degrees. 14! I was so happy!</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I am sure we'll still get some chilly days until I turn 27 (-> May 9th for all of you who don't know or remember - Shame on you! ;)), but for me, spring is officially here now.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I just thought I share this news.. ;)</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXvjnhKfWOpUdLTiHZSbizvy_u334icyZQZdb5JDKvOCJAjkNgVcu7yhNrAGZnRE7yRlEWxxJGgJBM_-83RL3e25qILuJJRQWntxvC8J_ZygzhthCbmKmXsJKOD_VmoolMWHWEbKkmpLE/s1600/happy_spring-1185.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXvjnhKfWOpUdLTiHZSbizvy_u334icyZQZdb5JDKvOCJAjkNgVcu7yhNrAGZnRE7yRlEWxxJGgJBM_-83RL3e25qILuJJRQWntxvC8J_ZygzhthCbmKmXsJKOD_VmoolMWHWEbKkmpLE/s320/happy_spring-1185.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Mel Butterflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10053134266423923637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1477924442609497399.post-27969342856109238892011-03-04T10:44:00.000-05:002011-03-04T10:44:12.177-05:00Don't mess with my Zen<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It's no secret: I love books.<br />
Reading is like meditation to me... my mind becomes still and the stories, scenery and characters unfold in front of my inner eye. It's magical. And so relaxing. Usually. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The last book I read was kind of an exception:</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
A few weeks ago our friend Theo came back from his vacation to the Dominican Republic and announced that he had been eaten alive by mosquitos and read a book: </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Courts-Sun-Brian-DAmato/dp/B00342VE3I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1299253058&sr=8-1">"In the Courts of the Sun" by Brian D'Amato</a>. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"It's pretty good," he told me. "It deals with time travel and the Maya. You should read it." </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I had just finished the novel I had been reading over the holidays, so I was up for it, but I didn't expect what this book had in store for me.<br />
Don't get me wrong. I don't regret reading it. It was pretty well written and the author seemed to have done his homework with all the Maya stuff. But I had some moments when I wanted to set the book on fire while reading it. That certainly was a first. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The author lets the main character use words and phrases in foreign languages, including German. And 9 out of 10 times he got it wrong. I got upset when I saw it the first time. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I told myself to let it go. It's just a book, right? Then it happened again... and again.. and again. By the time I had finished the novel I was so pissed off that I felt I needed to take action. So last night I emailed Brian D'Amato. And this is what I wrote:<br />
<br />
<br />
<i style="color: red;"><b>Subject: Issues with the use of German phrases or why I feel like poking my eyes</b><br />
<br />
Hi Brian,<br />
<br />
I have just finished reading "In the Courts of the Sun".<br />
In general I enjoyed your book, but there are a few things that I find upsetting.<br />
<br />
I get that it is neat to have Jed throw in phrases in foreign languages. But if it's done incorrectly it just sucks.<br />
I am German and since I am also a writer myself I feel like someone stabbed me in the eye each time I see words and phrases used in the wrong way.<br />
<br />
There are many examples in your book, but page 421 stood out the most: "So auch auf jener Oberfläche sich noch im krystallinischem Zustand befände." REALLY??? Is that necessary? I was contemplating to throw the book out of the window the moment I read that, because I was so pissed off.<br />
<br />
It just really makes you not look good. Throughout the book you really get the feeling that you did so much research on the Maya, etc... and kudos for that, but why not here? Why not have someone who knows German look over those phrases before you use them?<br />
I'm sure your publicist knows someone if you don't....<br />
<br />
Well, and if not.. heck I'll help you with the other 2 novels that are still to come if that's what it takes.<br />
<br />
So, anyways... I'll let you get back to writing and I hope my little feedback (rant) was helpful to you in some way.<br />
<br />
Kind regards,<br />
Melissa</i><br />
<br />
<br />
I don't know if I really expect a response.. but at least I feel better now... my Zen is restored. ;)</div>Mel Butterflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10053134266423923637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1477924442609497399.post-83767726102464052552011-02-22T17:25:00.000-05:002011-02-22T17:25:04.674-05:00Ten on Tuesday<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">After a long weekend with lots of fun with my guys, it's Tuesday again!</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So here are this week's questions found on <a href="http://rootsandrings.wordpress.com/">Roots & Rings</a>:<b><br />
</b></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>1. What are your thoughts on Valentine’s Day. Do you love it? Hate it?</b><br />
Well, I like it. (I mean who doesn't? There is lots of chocolate involved!)</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But I am a little sad for all those people that seem to need a specific day to show their love to their significant other. It's always Valentine's Day in our house cause we have so much love to give. Every day.<br />
<b><br />
2. What is your favorite romantic comedy?</b><br />
Ehm.. no clue. I can't even remember a single one at the moment. <br />
Let me ask Markus and I will check back later...<br />
<b><br />
3. Meg Ryan & John Mellencamp: what’s your first reaction?</b><br />
John Who? <i>(...running off to consult my friend Google...)</i><br />
Ah, THAT guy! <br />
Ehm.. good for them? <br />
I guess, I don't really care in this case... <br />
<br />
<b>4. All time favorite poem or quote? </b><br />
Man, that's hard. I am a sucker for quotes. <br />
So I'll have to list my top favorite<b>s</b> and not just one:<br />
<br />
"...cause it's the heart that really matters in the end."<br />
- Rob Thomas - Little Wonders<br />
<br />
"This, too, will pass."</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">- Eckhart Tolle <br />
<br />
(I will have to update this later with more..)<br />
<br />
<b>5. What’s the longest amount of time you’ve gone without sleep? (like consecutive hours).</b><br />
:)<br />
<br />
<b>6. What color ink do you prefer to use?</b><br />
Black.<br />
<br />
<b>7. Share with us a blog that you recently found and fell in love with (and link us!)</b><br />
<a href="http://www.starkravingmadmommy.com/">http://www.starkravingmadmommy.com/</a><br />
Just read it. She is amazing. <br />
<b><br />
8. If you could be on a reality TV show which one would you choose?</b><br />
"Survivor". Or "The Amazing Race" with Markus.<br />
<br />
<b>9. Mountains or Beach?</b><br />
Beach! <br />
<br />
<b>10. With the Oscars around the corner, what’s your pick for best picture?</b><br />
"Inception". It blew my mind.</div>Mel Butterflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10053134266423923637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1477924442609497399.post-3946435198608116552011-02-16T16:34:00.005-05:002011-04-04T14:05:57.715-04:00Markus = Leadership<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Lately I have been hearing the name "Markus" more than usual. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">One of my online mom-friends (-> Facebook group) just had a baby boy and named him Markus.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But the movie/TV industry seems to have picked up that name as well:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">On Saturday we celebrated Valentine's Day early and went to the theater to watch "The Eagle". The main character in this movie is Marcus Aquila. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Yesterday we were watching the latest episode of "V" and Anna's second in command, Marcus, was in distress so she was calling his name.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So I turned to Markus and asked if he is not feeling weird hearing his name all the time. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">His response: "No. Not at all because all those people are always in key positions. So that name is just appropriate."</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO5NsXThcdsLwFFdbiaba2k72erBkJZRc-Xw_qocS0BTFXYhggZH00Swa_Qyxj9bUHL61oIo5n4q_uTCtgqD28zqVHkTqL-7seAgJV1nzNwKOfhtkddJKC_WcP7ywfMt-12MLRlXAaQgs/s1600/Markusses.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO5NsXThcdsLwFFdbiaba2k72erBkJZRc-Xw_qocS0BTFXYhggZH00Swa_Qyxj9bUHL61oIo5n4q_uTCtgqD28zqVHkTqL-7seAgJV1nzNwKOfhtkddJKC_WcP7ywfMt-12MLRlXAaQgs/s1600/Markusses.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
Confident men with an appropriate name </span></i></span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The BEST response! Cause who can argue with that? ;) </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Mel Butterflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10053134266423923637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1477924442609497399.post-53076096736690554302011-02-15T11:06:00.000-05:002011-02-15T11:06:28.842-05:00Ten on Tuesday<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">After I skipped last week because I had no time to post anything, I am back with answering the Ten on Tuesday questions gathered from <a href="http://rootsandrings.wordpress.com/">Roots & Rings</a>.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This time we have summer theme going on... </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>1. Any vacations you are looking forward to this summer?</b><br />
We don't have anything planned yet. <br />
But I would really love to go someplace this year that is at an ocean and has beaches. <br />
It has been a while since we did that... <br />
We went to Dominican Republic in 2007 and Mexico in 2008, and both trips had been so much fun.<br />
<b><br />
2. What is your favorite article of summer clothing (shoes are included)?</b><br />
Shorter skirts and Flip-Flops.<br />
<br />
<b>3. What is your favorite summer drink (alcoholic or non)?</b><br />
Pina Colada<br />
<br />
<b>4. Do you tan or burn?</b><br />
Burn. I only get a real tan if I use a tanning bed unfortunately.<br />
<br />
<b>5. Any goals you are working toward this summer?</b><br />
Not specifically toward this summer... </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I always have goals I am working toward to.<br />
I feel that is an important thing to have in life.<br />
<br />
<b>6. What is your favorite summertime food?</b><br />
Strawberries with vanilla yogurt<br />
<b><br />
7. What song most says “summer” to you?</b><br />
Hm... I usually go with the flow... There are always a few songs they are playing in the radio all the time each summer and I usually like a couple of those as well.. Those would mean "summer" to me for that year... </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Other than that I could also name "The Love Committee - United States Of Love". </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It was the hymne to the Love Parade of 2006. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">At that point we were living in Berlin and it was an amazing summer with this party as the finale before we left. Every time I hear this song, I think about the great time we had there..<br />
<br />
<b>8. Any home improvement goals planned for this summer?</b><br />
Nope. We don't own a house..<br />
<b><br />
9. What is one thing you hate to see at the beach?</b><br />
Trash. It always makes me mad cause it is so inconsiderate to other people trying to enjoy their day. And of course it can be dangerous to kids running around barefoot (-> think of broken pieces of glass, etc).<br />
<b><br />
10. Did you ever go to a summer camp?</b><br />
Yes. When I was in elementary school the community would offer summer activities for the kids during their summer break. One of them was a daytime summer camp that lasted about 1 week. We would do all kinds of creative, sporty and fun things there.</div>Mel Butterflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10053134266423923637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1477924442609497399.post-27822712705690041492011-02-11T16:37:00.001-05:002011-02-14T17:43:39.858-05:00Not everything goes as planned<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">When you become a parent you quickly realize that there are tons of decisions you have to make just to get started:</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Breastmilk or formula? Scheduled feedings or on cue?</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Cloth diapers or disposables? What brand? </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Stroller or baby wearing?</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Vaccinations? All of them? Some of them? Delayed or on schedule? </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Your general parenting style? Traditional or Attachment Parenting? </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And those are just a few...</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Some were no-brainers. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">There was no question that I would breastfeed and that Ace would wear Pampers. Being a working mom, I was more than happy to hook myself up to a pump every day at work to collect food for my baby, but I was absolutely unwilling to deal with soiled cloth diapers when I came back home. Especially since we didn't have a washing machine, but were laundromat customers... </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Other decisions certainly took a bit of time and relied on trial and error. And adjustments were necessary as time went by. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">For example we bought a running stroller, but Ace was too small to sit in there. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But guess what, his infant car seat fit perfectly in it, so we would just use that combination to go out.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Or we bought a Snugli baby carrier, but in the beginning again he was too small for it. <br />
So I got a baby pouch sling to carry him around for the first couple of months. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">(By the way that also solved the problem with noisy strangers trying to touch him. People often thought it was just a hand bag... lol) <br />
And eventually when he was over a year old and had gotten a bit too heavy for the Snugli, I bought a sling wrap so that I could hip carry him.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Of course then there was also the sleeping situation...</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">While I was pregnant I thought I had it all figured out: I had insisted on buying a bassinet, so we got one and had it set up next to our bed. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">My idea was: I am close to the baby when he needs me, but he is still sleeping in his own bed. This will make it easier to transition to a crib later when he sleeps through the night.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Yeah, it didn't quite happen that way.. *cough*</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Once he was born the midwife gave him to me and told me to keep him close since he would need my body heat to stay warm and so that we could bond as well. So for the next couple of days I would hold him (except when Markus had him, of course) at day and night time and by the time <u><b>I</b></u> was ready to let him sleep in his bassinet, Ace wasn't having it anymore. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">He would be fussing and was just so unhappy in the bassinet that we continued to take him with us to bed. And before you knew it, the Laibachers had become a co-sleeping family.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Something I had not really planned on, but I might have been the one benefiting the most from it since it turns out that breastfeeding while co-sleeping is so much easier than having to get up in the middle of the night in order to feed your baby. ;)</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Fast forward to today. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Ace is 20 months now but our sleeping arrangements haven't changed. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">For a while we tried to get him used to sleeping in the PNP but the results were just so so and eventually we just let it go. And it's not like that we aren't enjoying it. It's really nice to be able to be there for your child the second he needs you... and all the cuddle time we get because of it is just wonderful. Also our bed is king-size with plenty of room for all of us, even now that Ace has grown so much. That is: Usually. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Cause there are the days when even a king-size bed doesn't seem to be enough - especially when you have a child that hates blankets, but loves to steal your pillow:</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvn7LcbilsuL1UV-yeTgLsbK09ZUjmjBAjw7g9PMhXYKCr7QvApvFKlqCMHsbkkC5x0c0B7bNLnG2qDEmxs3op1gDpJLsvbunAEs_GDRRAacCh-LKYi3tonY_iIxqBqChIQ62LOQTjkgg/s1600/TheDownSideOfCoSleeping%2529sml.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvn7LcbilsuL1UV-yeTgLsbK09ZUjmjBAjw7g9PMhXYKCr7QvApvFKlqCMHsbkkC5x0c0B7bNLnG2qDEmxs3op1gDpJLsvbunAEs_GDRRAacCh-LKYi3tonY_iIxqBqChIQ62LOQTjkgg/s320/TheDownSideOfCoSleeping%2529sml.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Oh, the things we don't mind doing for our kids... ;)</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div>Mel Butterflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10053134266423923637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1477924442609497399.post-36361957824267080372011-02-01T15:57:00.001-05:002011-02-22T17:24:26.058-05:00Ten on Tuesday<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I'm still amazed by how fast every week goes by.. and before you know it, it's Tuesday again!</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Here are the questions Chelsea from <a href="http://rootsandrings.wordpress.com/">Roots & Rings</a> asked today:</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>1. What is your favorite childhood memory?</b></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Watching the birth of a litter of kittens.<br />
<br />
<b>2. What is your favorite quality about yourself?</b></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">My honesty and empathy.<br />
<br />
<b>3. What is your favorite thing that your child does?</b></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I love that he is so cuddly and attached. But he also makes me laugh with his humor. I think once he starts speaking in full sentences we will have a lot of funny moments ahead of us.<br />
<br />
<b>4. What is your favorite thing to do to relax?</b></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">A hot bath is nice. But these days it's rarely in peace and quiet since Ace wants to climb into the tub too. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I find reading very relaxing. Especially with a nice glass of wine.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But I guess my favorite way of relaxing is to cuddle with Markus. :)<br />
<br />
<b>5. What is your favorite restaurant? And what is your favorite thing on the menu?</b></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I don't have a favorite restaurant cause I like a variety of different foods.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But to give a couple of examples: I am a big fan of the General Tao Chicken at the <a href="http://www.imperialbuffet.com/">Imperial Buffet</a> and I was very happy about the Spicy Vegetarian Maki I ate at <a href="http://www.newgenerationsushi.com/">New Generation Sushi</a> while I was pregnant with Ace.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
<b>6. What is your favorite piece of jewelry (besides your wedding ring)?</b></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The heart necklace Markus gave me as a gift last year.<br />
<br />
<b>7. What is your favorite night of the week M-TH? And why?</b></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Thursday. Because it means I only have 1 more day to work before the weekend. <br />
<br />
<b>8. What is your favorite dessert?</b></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Cheesecake. <br />
<b><br />
9. What is your favorite item in your make-up bag?</b></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">My foundation. BareMinerals by <a href="http://www.bareescentuals.com/Face/BE_FACE,default,sc.html">Bare Escentuals</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>10. What is your favorite smell?</b></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">That salty-fresh smell you can only experience at an ocean.<br />
<br />
</div>Mel Butterflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10053134266423923637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1477924442609497399.post-88991399358173319372011-01-28T15:11:00.008-05:002014-07-29T06:49:12.356-04:00Potty training readiness<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
Lately potty training has been on my mind a little bit. </div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
A few of my online mom-friends (Facebook group) who have kids the same age as Ace, have started with potty training.<br /><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8R4wK7VwgkCFGi6cTfOQDoLtW6G1d6RNWi4SXelqwLzGNby8eQiy2ToA9WO4JG9lH0Ru-wo-ObaKean3cXjF6U6L2_uF4VNj5NNgqbMZsveIBG4Z6qVr-h8m-Dnidg4R08sneA5K7j4c/s1600/cat_toilet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8R4wK7VwgkCFGi6cTfOQDoLtW6G1d6RNWi4SXelqwLzGNby8eQiy2ToA9WO4JG9lH0Ru-wo-ObaKean3cXjF6U6L2_uF4VNj5NNgqbMZsveIBG4Z6qVr-h8m-Dnidg4R08sneA5K7j4c/s1600/cat_toilet.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: #f6f5f3; color: #333333; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">If cats can learn how to do it, I'm sure Ace will as well..</span></i></span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
And then I know a few other friends who are now slowly starting this as well, so of course we are discussing it.</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
I already read a bit about it.. what signs to look for to find out if your child is ready to start potty training, etc. But today I stumbled over a proper checklist. Nice. </div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
Since Markus is home with Ace these days I just forwarded this list to him as well. </div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
For reference cause I know we are not there yet. </div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
However to my surprise, I already got the list back since Markus has taken it on him to answer each point. </div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
Please find below the interesting responses I received (in <i>kursiv </i>and <span style="color: red;">red</span>):</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>Potty training readiness checklist:</b></u></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br />
<b>Physical signs</b> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="Default" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</div>
<div class="Default" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 22pt;">□ </span>Is coordinated enough to walk, and even run, steadily.<span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;">- Fluctuating!<br />
</span></i></div>
<div class="Default" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 22pt;">□ </span>Urinates a fair amount at one time.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;">- How the heck should I know? I am NOT measuring with a cup.<br />
</span></i></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 22pt;">□ </span>Has regular, well-formed bowel movements at relatively predictable times. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;">- </span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;">What the heck is a well-formed bowel movement??? IT’S A FRICKN’ TURD!</span></i><br />
<span style="color: red;">- </span><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;">Predictable times? Sure: DAILY</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 22pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 22pt;">□ </span>Has "dry" periods of at least three or four hours, which shows that his bladder muscles are developed enough to hold urine. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;">- Nope</span></i></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<b>Behavioral signs</b> </div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 22pt;">□ </span>Can sit down quietly in one position for two to five minutes. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;"><i>- …while watching TV! Easy peasy.</i><br />
</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 22pt;">□ </span>Can pull his pants up and down. </div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;">- Way too often! Mainly DOWN!<br />
</span></i></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 22pt;">□ </span>Dislikes the feeling of wearing a wet or dirty diaper. </div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;">- He couldn’t care less.<br />
</span></i></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 22pt;">□ </span>Shows interest in others' bathroom habits (wants to watch you go to the bathroom or wear underwear). </div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;">- Or hands you the toilet paper! Yeah.<br />
- Especially the watching part is kind of creepy.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;">- Yes, he often wears mommy's underwear - ON HIS HEAD!<br />
</span></i></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 22pt;">□ </span>Gives a physical or verbal sign when he's having a bowel movement such as grunting, squatting, or telling you. </div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;"><i>- He is too busy trying to climb on you.</i><br />
</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 22pt;">□ </span>Demonstrates a desire for independence. </div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;">- What? By writing the Declaration of Independence? Sure.<br />
</span></i></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 22pt;">□ </span>Takes pride in his accomplishments. </div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;">- Big time!<br />
</span></i></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 22pt;">□ </span>Isn't resistant to learning to use the toilet. </div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;">- How the heck should I teach him? Sit him down until he wants to get up? He doesn’t get the concept quite yet.<br />
</span></i></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 22pt;">□ </span>Is in a generally cooperative stage, not a negative or contrary one. </div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;">- In the washroom? During lunch? WTH?</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;">- He is extremely cooperative when I do what he wants me to do.</span></i></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<b>Cognitive signs</b> </div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 22pt;">□ </span>Can follow simple instructions, such as "go get the toy." </div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;">- Sure. But doesn’t mean that he is going to do it, though.<br />
</span></i></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 22pt;">□ </span>Understands the value of putting things where they belong. </div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;">- He does it sometimes. How the heck should I know if he understands the value?<br />
Ask him??? The answer is always the same: ‘Da…deeeeeee.’ SO GO FIGURE!<br />
</span></i></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 22pt;">□ </span>Has words for urine and stool. </div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;">- Nope.<br />
</span></i></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 22pt;">□ </span>Understands the physical signals that mean he has to go and can tell you before it happens or even hold it until he has time to get to the potty. </div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;">- Dream on!…</span></i></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
Mel Butterflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10053134266423923637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1477924442609497399.post-39539954473531562682011-01-27T11:19:00.000-05:002011-01-27T11:19:24.997-05:00News from Russia<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This made me laugh today, so of course I am going to share:</div><br />
<h1 style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Mummy fried - woman sets fire to house while trying to reanimate long-dead sister</i></h1><div class="mh15 fs12" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i> Published: <span class="grey">26 January, 2011, 15:19</span><br />
Edited: <span class="grey">26 January, 2011, 16:08</span></i> </div><i style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><img alt="" id="MainImageVideo" src="http://rt.com/files/news/fire-sister-revive-mummy/old-lady.n.jpg" /></i> <div class="" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>A night fire in an apartment block has been caused by a woman who tried to reanimate her long-dead elder sister with electricity.</i></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>The horrific story happened in Ekaterinburg, the biggest city in the Urals.<br />
<br />
The suspected arsonist, 69, apparently was not completely of sound mind, judging by her mental health record.<br />
<br />
A year ago, her 73-year-old sister died from natural causes, prosecutors told Noviy Region news agency. However, instead of reporting the death, the woman preserved the body with gasoline and had been trying the reanimate it ever since.<br />
<br />
Her last macabre experiment on Tuesday night involved “jump starting” the mummified corpse with two wires connecting the body’s hand and neck to the mains.<br />
<br />
Despite what Frankenstein movies suggest, the electric current did not revive the body, instead setting it on fire.<br />
<br />
The surviving sister is now in hospital suffering from burns and smoke inhalation.</i></div><br />
<br />
--------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Source: </span><a href="http://rt.com/news/fire-sister-revive-mummy/" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">http://rt.com/news/fire-sister-revive-mummy/</a>Mel Butterflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10053134266423923637noreply@blogger.com0