tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36393275674751924002024-03-12T16:57:55.224-07:00Sassy Bananasassitude is everythingSassy B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02623368386226100339noreply@blogger.comBlogger133125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639327567475192400.post-19443567777100183862011-07-05T19:34:00.000-07:002011-07-05T19:34:11.966-07:00now that's a fact<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0nKD8uinVrW-2HId6eV6F9RrHHyccMbdUZ6lL_phqDBSI0TSYx9pxEziag4vA_XY2sLlSKCP6iuBnaQK9Dw4zrWGFQC-PfgL1g9mvqjBZ_PHjEUxOo64m9-mL9VH7CXP3dmvA0Il577k/s1600/bananas+genes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0nKD8uinVrW-2HId6eV6F9RrHHyccMbdUZ6lL_phqDBSI0TSYx9pxEziag4vA_XY2sLlSKCP6iuBnaQK9Dw4zrWGFQC-PfgL1g9mvqjBZ_PHjEUxOo64m9-mL9VH7CXP3dmvA0Il577k/s400/bananas+genes.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Sassy B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02623368386226100339noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639327567475192400.post-70052967032923787062011-07-01T08:09:00.001-07:002011-07-01T08:20:27.893-07:00Weekend Reading<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC_tVXO8vuvTRagVOZC5hFfkLBpuPpR1h3Tg-TAyMV8VXtRb5P3FkdEKdtHjQaXVQWS92_A3MKURO-wkpLDaHbeo8k5WZzM1g6YYozX4PCQpdKHqv7cGRhKY7hdMn8RoLadh0jNvgq2X_A/s1600/IMG_5496.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624401473904070994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC_tVXO8vuvTRagVOZC5hFfkLBpuPpR1h3Tg-TAyMV8VXtRb5P3FkdEKdtHjQaXVQWS92_A3MKURO-wkpLDaHbeo8k5WZzM1g6YYozX4PCQpdKHqv7cGRhKY7hdMn8RoLadh0jNvgq2X_A/s320/IMG_5496.JPG" /></a>I am in the middle of a few books, as well as reading the Sookie Stackhouse series (the books the show "True Blood" is based on--and may I say that the show is actually <em>better</em> than the books, which is a surprise.) So, I don't have a particular book to review or recommend at the moment, but my son does!<br /><br />My son is an avid reader. He is a year and a half. Crazy, right? For a toddler full of energy, the only time I can get him to sit still is with a stack of books. Before I had kids, I never knew what to buy other kids, especially ones under 2. So my solution to anyone ever wondering what to buy young toddlers is BOOKS. They last forever. They can be used over and over again. They (hardly ever) break. Oh, and the best part? They don't need batteries! What a relief!<br /><br />My son's personal preference is any book about colors. The book above is just a collection of pictures categorized by color. He LOVES to point out each thing that I say: Can you point to the orange pumpkin? His face lights up every time he gets one right. So I thought I would just share a tip for anyone wondering what to buy nieces, nephews, etc. this summer. Happy reading!Babbling Bananahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17152160884374931272noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639327567475192400.post-71603836452009312502011-06-27T07:24:00.000-07:002011-06-27T07:24:35.203-07:00Hey! It' Monday! Meet me....and the others who hang here....<div align="center">I don't know about you but, I'm going to just ignore the fact that I completely spaced out doing this post last Monday. Oh, I apologize for the spacing out....you know how things get....how LIFE gets sometimes and things just go by the wayside.</div><div align="center">But, I'm back....still a little spacey but, that's pretty much normal anymore.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">With that, let's get to it, shall we?</div><div align="center">This is Miss Java's (over at <a href="http://nevergrowingold.blogspot.com/2011/06/meet-me-on-monday_26.html">NeverGrowingOld</a>) 50th <a href="http://nevergrowingold.blogspot.com/2011/06/meet-me-on-monday_26.html">Meet Me on Monday</a> meme....she's on vacation right now, but if you want to get to know some others doing this, go on over and click away.</div><div align="center">And as always....what are YOUR answers to the questions?</div><div align="center">This is the fun part about memes...finding out about each other.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><u><span style="color: #741b47;">Questions:</span></u></em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><br />
<em><u><span style="color: #741b47;"></span></u></em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><u><span style="color: #741b47;">1. What is your favorite food?</span></u></em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">There are many foods I love...but if I had to pick just one, it would have to be...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZlut3Q-Y4ICIQeC73j4m5-muRsn5IMPWwlyrMqybJU5qYISgL7KFKMSBuOcHGo7yCy_Wkzjatk3U8Ou_TPCNLXls8hXm_knYD6sw4DLRJ6qDPpv1miLwI_6ny8sG2mHeLeup8CqsSoZw/s1600/meme1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZlut3Q-Y4ICIQeC73j4m5-muRsn5IMPWwlyrMqybJU5qYISgL7KFKMSBuOcHGo7yCy_Wkzjatk3U8Ou_TPCNLXls8hXm_knYD6sw4DLRJ6qDPpv1miLwI_6ny8sG2mHeLeup8CqsSoZw/s1600/meme1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pizza....proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><u><span style="color: #741b47;">2. What color scheme is your bedroom?</span></u></em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">The whole idea of "color scheme" doesn't really work with a traditional Japanese room...unless your color scheme is brown (tatami floor), white (paper doors) and green (walls). We don't even have futon covers as, in the traditional way, futons are put away every morning <strike>most mornings.</strike></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR7lkv-XS-3NUjtUF8rkldlU0jwB8bmChZYAfr0My7RAbUEJfM_s5nwF0RQeESSFy2pzc5yn09gmPLnTYx2TAowSEhypBfVgirR5FWyxNMbiydsxhiDBxiTgha7OkmMF6hnpRCehwD6sk/s1600/meme2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR7lkv-XS-3NUjtUF8rkldlU0jwB8bmChZYAfr0My7RAbUEJfM_s5nwF0RQeESSFy2pzc5yn09gmPLnTYx2TAowSEhypBfVgirR5FWyxNMbiydsxhiDBxiTgha7OkmMF6hnpRCehwD6sk/s1600/meme2.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>*and no....this is not my room...mine is much messier!! sorry.</em></span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><u><span style="color: #741b47;">3. Do you carry a donor card?</span></u></em></strong><br />
<span style="color: black;">When I lived in the States, I always carried one. Here in Japan, the whole idea of donating organs is not one that is easily accepted....it is only in the last couple of years that it has happened...and very rarely, at that.</span><br />
So, my answer is no. I do not carry a donor card...but, I wish I could.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg3pi3GuGZUl-HA9W28XsW-5SWUF7Q7TdPkIXajqINnQxpGYoecq2LYAFdGobchWcBG2k6btcLbd_Il5XQ4tofyCnMqnSdyBnbiz5hKdYffjT36JRtxs5BWkhPt7EkbEHEb5ldjzWJD7Q/s1600/meme3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg3pi3GuGZUl-HA9W28XsW-5SWUF7Q7TdPkIXajqINnQxpGYoecq2LYAFdGobchWcBG2k6btcLbd_Il5XQ4tofyCnMqnSdyBnbiz5hKdYffjT36JRtxs5BWkhPt7EkbEHEb5ldjzWJD7Q/s1600/meme3.jpg" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><u><span style="color: #741b47;">4. In your opinion, is the glass half empty or half full?</span></u></em></strong><br />
<span style="color: black;">It all depends on <em>what</em> is in the glass....and how late in the day/evening it is when you ask.</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><u><span style="color: #741b47;">5. Vanilla or Chocolate?</span></u></em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;">Oh, please.....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXUFCsx7ZxBgYliSpwKXrjbqAWnh52rvtm03iOOrh8tqDSoHGNmtanwATCGbOH2u2i74DlFb_I5vV55xM552gkjvvOUYzBKEZkj4MO2UsubcNNUCdkLl_9wOFyD-KcuUnbp-Wm6zqufzQ/s1600/meme5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXUFCsx7ZxBgYliSpwKXrjbqAWnh52rvtm03iOOrh8tqDSoHGNmtanwATCGbOH2u2i74DlFb_I5vV55xM552gkjvvOUYzBKEZkj4MO2UsubcNNUCdkLl_9wOFyD-KcuUnbp-Wm6zqufzQ/s1600/meme5.jpg" /></a></div><div align="center">'Nuf said.</div><div align="center">(^-^)</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Ya'll have a good week. </div><div align="center"><br />
</div>dkuroiwahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14702013452096435136noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639327567475192400.post-8243168240050230172011-06-24T10:11:00.000-07:002011-06-24T10:11:25.136-07:00weekend reads<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/AVvXsEi2dNDJ4g0J_VF9xc5YC3AvYWEwnBoIBN-SzRYrsFHrtPckuzNknfnVwy6W3e4n0ZFz3p7GUc0NqqgKvVgBnnpvEzD5LL2CS9jRKeRJKuGW9mS06NtTa81RTbrsoXsP_EPwbZgegflrB7Q/s1600/woman-reading-book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2dNDJ4g0J_VF9xc5YC3AvYWEwnBoIBN-SzRYrsFHrtPckuzNknfnVwy6W3e4n0ZFz3p7GUc0NqqgKvVgBnnpvEzD5LL2CS9jRKeRJKuGW9mS06NtTa81RTbrsoXsP_EPwbZgegflrB7Q/s1600/woman-reading-book.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The joy of reading outside.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Summer has officially begun and with it, summer reading can begin in earnest. Do you read different types of books when the days are longer and warmer? I think I read more fiction during the summer.<br />
<br />
I'm currently trying to finish a big ol' book I have little interest in: The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest. It's the last (thank goodness) in the Larrson trilogy. Reading it for book club although that book club meeting has come and gone. I just feel obligated to finish.<br />
<br />
What I have coming up to read that I'm jazzed about are these books:<br />
<br />
<ul><li>Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls (author of The Glass Castle)</li>
<li>Started Early, Took My Dog by Kate Atkinson</li>
<li>State of Wonder by Ann Patchett</li>
</ul><div>What are you reading this weekend? Will you be reading outside?</div>Sassy B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02623368386226100339noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639327567475192400.post-81712884225653973152011-06-18T07:01:00.000-07:002011-06-18T07:01:00.686-07:00Saturday Snapshot - Childhood<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXkb3yv4VpDmA9eX3CfFSAtiP_4QYiBtaqGIeGzm8uc8qDHcUNE3jIQKjN983utFCrymMCG0FZ7xI3TvocNQPtBLX5M1WSA6vbBn0iLCicrUdeHidxUqhTU0JMjr1-YIw060YLEzGTlNRv/s1600/softbradley.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 319px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXkb3yv4VpDmA9eX3CfFSAtiP_4QYiBtaqGIeGzm8uc8qDHcUNE3jIQKjN983utFCrymMCG0FZ7xI3TvocNQPtBLX5M1WSA6vbBn0iLCicrUdeHidxUqhTU0JMjr1-YIw060YLEzGTlNRv/s400/softbradley.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619343335020065026" /></a>Banan Appealinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00191235095963686995noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639327567475192400.post-31897815581296861742011-06-17T20:32:00.001-07:002011-06-17T20:45:10.572-07:00Weekend Review<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj91c6olmJAlnJog0tEqymDVIesZKfX3xGMyBtE4sDnEqhBGIVOqA8KZanY8GLkB-p32cp5a2ic28eNDrsQUjsNfu8cvuoYU8AA00AaM80J7iIqV2nqughpqPtLVQtv2Ck0xv-5O6t-hQx/s1600/xmen.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 212px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619397639710092546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj91c6olmJAlnJog0tEqymDVIesZKfX3xGMyBtE4sDnEqhBGIVOqA8KZanY8GLkB-p32cp5a2ic28eNDrsQUjsNfu8cvuoYU8AA00AaM80J7iIqV2nqughpqPtLVQtv2Ck0xv-5O6t-hQx/s320/xmen.jpg" /></a> I love the X-Men movies. I thought it was because I am madly in love with Patrick Stewart. But after watching the new "X-Men: First Class" movie, I think it is just that I am in love with the character of Charles Xavier. (I am now seriously considering naming my son Charles Xavier!)<br /><br />Even if you haven't watched the other X-Men movies or know anything about the comics, I still recommend this film. It is a prequel and while it's helpful to know the ultimate destiny of some of the main characters, it certainly isn't required. This movie has an amazing cast, including the lovely January Jones. At first I was shocked to see Kevin Bacon cast as the villian, but he actually did a great job. This film was directed by Matthew Vaughn (director of "Kick-Ass") and I think it was actually better than the previous X-Men films. I read a few reviews where people didn't believe the friendship chemistry between Charles and Erik (later known as Professor X and Magneto) but I thought it was believable and well acted.<br /><br />I think the reason I love the X-Men movies is because they are action packed (which my husband likes) but the plot lines are intriguing and captivating and the dialogue isn't cheesy (which I like.) So even if you choose to stay away from the typical comic book flick, you might actually enjoy this one.Babbling Bananahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17152160884374931272noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639327567475192400.post-40626150590346638502011-06-17T00:01:00.000-07:002011-06-17T00:01:39.061-07:00beautiful banana baby bean<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of my previous students from the high school (now married and living in the States) sent this to me of her newborn son.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTNXhyphenhyphenB70wt1lC5lwaxaZdy8P9m0FS3FR0vMWce4OmvAEEdg9a5JneFhpgXLsV4oEhGKwzSnFc0QeHYj-3P8zpyeh7vnGZsmkw-LlQEkG5fOH4kKSyy3UbP866sCt0G3gqwSNojas-Krc/s1600/baby+banana+bean.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTNXhyphenhyphenB70wt1lC5lwaxaZdy8P9m0FS3FR0vMWce4OmvAEEdg9a5JneFhpgXLsV4oEhGKwzSnFc0QeHYj-3P8zpyeh7vnGZsmkw-LlQEkG5fOH4kKSyy3UbP866sCt0G3gqwSNojas-Krc/s1600/baby+banana+bean.jpg" /></a></div><div align="center"><strong><em><span style="font-size: large;">"Sure, I look like a banana.....who cares? </span></em></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><em><span style="font-size: large;">It's comfy and I sleep like a...well...like a baby."</span></em></strong></div>dkuroiwahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14702013452096435136noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639327567475192400.post-51881560053799930132011-06-15T07:20:00.000-07:002011-06-15T07:20:00.808-07:00Wordless Wednesday - Before & After<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOcxvl4eSoJKuPBSLbjrx7kTHVdv8u-hDX7dHW2V8Qtcwt0QXbt96xjhf3NY3C6HXtBUwBd14_Adi2cw-nEA897Q8plBqHgoqHvbfYOBICPO27tItFMclt6iPkkOb6P4mU2BVAG07_jewZ/s1600/bananabeforeandaft.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOcxvl4eSoJKuPBSLbjrx7kTHVdv8u-hDX7dHW2V8Qtcwt0QXbt96xjhf3NY3C6HXtBUwBd14_Adi2cw-nEA897Q8plBqHgoqHvbfYOBICPO27tItFMclt6iPkkOb6P4mU2BVAG07_jewZ/s400/bananabeforeandaft.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618188706836603234" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Visit more <a href="http://www.wordlesswednesday.com/newhome/">Wordlessness</a> if you feel so inclined</span></div>Banan Appealinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00191235095963686995noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639327567475192400.post-79935351860993790642011-06-12T20:33:00.000-07:002011-06-12T20:33:15.801-07:00it's monday so....meet me<div align="center">I hope this finds you all doing well. The <a href="http://nevergrowingold.blogspot.com/2011/06/meet-me-on-monday_12.html">Meet Me On Monday</a> meme that is sponsored by Java is up and since I'm home for a little bit this morning, I'll get it done and posted and not have to worry about rushing through it tonight!</div><div align="center">Remember....it's fun to do the meme, but, it's even more fun when you tell us your answers...it gives us a chance to get to know each other.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Here are the questions for this week:</div><div align="center"><strong><em><span style="color: #20124d;">Questions:</span></em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="color: #20124d;">1. What is your favorite yogurt flavor?</span></em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLF-Plc8OhCPWoWx-kceedwr8C23GNA5p6mDCkp3wl4TZ7HmnDynZycjfLVm5UDMyfhHthGG2YLWgk475J5UDcssiIeY2Us6toC5TvoGjxX6aCFS1pph6mplFqN0_QJeb7-PalTkrDrNc/s1600/meme1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLF-Plc8OhCPWoWx-kceedwr8C23GNA5p6mDCkp3wl4TZ7HmnDynZycjfLVm5UDMyfhHthGG2YLWgk475J5UDcssiIeY2Us6toC5TvoGjxX6aCFS1pph6mplFqN0_QJeb7-PalTkrDrNc/s1600/meme1.jpg" t8="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Very berry, baby...the more berries, the better.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="color: #20124d;">2. Ankle or knee socks? and on the same theme, white socks or coloured??</span></em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;">Actually......I am neither.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I am more of a slouch socks kind of girl.<br />
White, please.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbc_m8PkyYwhyOZgMV8mPLG-7cR_C2C7259_IxtOLQ_KCEVKABmQHBuhF2PQplz0KCLMzvErWoqV4R0Q7evLUz8SC4ttzyC3U_NygseDFvMhFPoqKlZsjPHmsDH8lRb8PJ3EL4KyRpdfU/s1600/meme2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbc_m8PkyYwhyOZgMV8mPLG-7cR_C2C7259_IxtOLQ_KCEVKABmQHBuhF2PQplz0KCLMzvErWoqV4R0Q7evLUz8SC4ttzyC3U_NygseDFvMhFPoqKlZsjPHmsDH8lRb8PJ3EL4KyRpdfU/s1600/meme2.jpg" t8="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">and no, sadly, those are not my legs. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">dammit.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<strong><em><span style="color: #20124d;">3. How is the weather right now?</span></em></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR0kgyFcBgc2miu7OZPlulQXAqeY1HKnifqxSIZ8rqJwxXw057_zP6kYIPLqZ7k0C7CAwD0KaopiROQQDzjfXSnBhfbcwhKDIlBEso4Hz4nsibKoxIHQWueCnKgA2_FGIzH31dH-TaBM0/s1600/meme3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR0kgyFcBgc2miu7OZPlulQXAqeY1HKnifqxSIZ8rqJwxXw057_zP6kYIPLqZ7k0C7CAwD0KaopiROQQDzjfXSnBhfbcwhKDIlBEso4Hz4nsibKoxIHQWueCnKgA2_FGIzH31dH-TaBM0/s1600/meme3.jpg" t8="true" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">After almost 4 straight days of heavy, torrential rain, we have cool, slightly humid cloudy skies.</div><div style="text-align: center;">We are in the 'rainy season' here in Nagasaki (which will last until the first of July, or so) so this..along with the heavy rains, will be the standard for a couple more weeks.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<strong><em><span style="color: #20124d;">4. Are you a fast typer?</span></em></strong><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="color: black;">I didn't really know anymore, so....I took a test.</span></span><br />
<a href="http://speedtest.10-fast-fingers.com/" style="background: url(http://speedtest.10-fast-fingers.com/img/badge1.png) no-repeat; color: #009933; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman, Arial, serif; font-size: 40px; font-weight: bold; height: 100px; padding-left: 60px; padding-top: 50px; text-decoration: none; width: 300px;">72 words</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<strong><em><span style="color: #20124d;">5. Red or White Wine?</span></em></strong><br />
I have had some bad experiences with red so I prefer a white.<br />
And if I could, I would drink<a href="http://www.cocettiwines.com/scripts/cpg.cfm?id=2"> <em>this</em></a> white wine every chance I get.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYg0aB6YEwSlK1cjZClrXV13tnQzsYCbO8fb5E3edJef3zTgxTi2zwtzWImhNVU00-v6nMA8RYqaAeJvVWoTzvsLDJSz8exomg5yP6sExsxaPcTOPS2R0vr8DWsQu4MrILsHawB8gYBzw/s1600/meme5.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYg0aB6YEwSlK1cjZClrXV13tnQzsYCbO8fb5E3edJef3zTgxTi2zwtzWImhNVU00-v6nMA8RYqaAeJvVWoTzvsLDJSz8exomg5yP6sExsxaPcTOPS2R0vr8DWsQu4MrILsHawB8gYBzw/s1600/meme5.bmp" t8="true" /></a></div>The Cocetti family are close personal friends of mine in Denver, Colorado. Their daughter is my 'soul sistah' and I have drank many a <strike>bottle</strike> glass at their house.<br />
If you go to their site, tell them Debbie sent you. (^-^)<br />
I can pretty much guarantee that all their wines are wonderful....even the reds.<br />
Have a great week. <br />
I hope where you are the skies are sunny and the breezes are cool.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
</div>dkuroiwahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14702013452096435136noreply@blogger.com7Asia32.768800692468368 129.63867349999998-14.53593830753163 46.323873499999976 80.073539692468358 -147.04652650000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639327567475192400.post-36028464644817760252011-06-10T07:43:00.001-07:002011-06-10T08:01:37.113-07:00Weekend Review<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH730ozxJrgCJFJUeUC8Kl3G_LOgjYmUH_NBjLbGcc7xpPY__GFKGoEnlL1gZTJLeeEavJ3B331Q4QBFIhXbCYZEay8fDVMEUsHVBXdW77LusYu__wNqXf0FZ5FndjGueQ_q0RtGBsxjxX/s1600/game-of-thrones-poster.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 216px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616601845918986178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH730ozxJrgCJFJUeUC8Kl3G_LOgjYmUH_NBjLbGcc7xpPY__GFKGoEnlL1gZTJLeeEavJ3B331Q4QBFIhXbCYZEay8fDVMEUsHVBXdW77LusYu__wNqXf0FZ5FndjGueQ_q0RtGBsxjxX/s320/game-of-thrones-poster.jpg" /></a> I bet you're thinking, "Really? She's gonna recommend this?!" I know, I am surprised as well. I usually stick with 19th century romances, light-hearted comedies, dramas, and the occasional sci-fi. "Game of Thrones" is bloody, disturbing, overly sexual (like all the HBO shows!), slow paced at times, and gory. But it's GOOD. And addictive. There are ten episodes to Season 1, with the finale airing in a week. That gives you all one week to catch up on the first nine episodes!<br /><br />Quick plot overview: This series is based on a series of fantasy novels written by George R. R. Martin. I am tempted to read these books now. There are three main storylines that are slowly merging together and I am excited to see if the finale unites them even more. The main story is of Lord Stark, the Hand of the King, and his family and their strained relationship with the King and his family, the Lannisters. You will come to despise the Lannisters with the exception of Tyrion, the dwarf or imp as they call him, who is clever and witty and one of the best characters and actors on the show. The second storyline is at "the Wall", which is literally a huge wall that serves as a border and is guarded 24 hours a day to protect it from "creatures" that I can only assume to be some sort of zombies. The last storyline is the one I am fascinated with and that is the tribe of Dothraki warriors, led by Drogo and his new young wife Daenerys. I can't give away much about her except that her storyline involves dragons and she is simply awesome.<br /><br />Okay, so I just went back and read this and I am not sure anyone will buy into this show as it does sound totally strange, but hang in there for at least a few episodes and I am sure you will be hooked. However, beware that it is pretty graphic at times and on more than one occasion I have had to cover my eyes or hide in my husband's shoulder! Happy watching!Babbling Bananahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17152160884374931272noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639327567475192400.post-77820770819212754762011-06-08T09:20:00.000-07:002011-06-08T09:36:17.620-07:00Wordless Wednesday - Good Eggs<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiDuGBZx66_nFHOMTdb3r_4kUnpto3xz5JgiG9Iq5GfkTkeZd-I8fCPAokJ1ZQJ3pfH4Y_x48HzHQ5Fd_pMHNY3cPcp2gO3v9bROlgxlB7qb_D7n1096WsGrXPWXFwUImgB2x8uk0Rq5Jb/s1600/DSC_0019.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 314px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiDuGBZx66_nFHOMTdb3r_4kUnpto3xz5JgiG9Iq5GfkTkeZd-I8fCPAokJ1ZQJ3pfH4Y_x48HzHQ5Fd_pMHNY3cPcp2gO3v9bROlgxlB7qb_D7n1096WsGrXPWXFwUImgB2x8uk0Rq5Jb/s400/DSC_0019.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615886731400658562" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8F6wu5NXbLG0cN5E_cwP-MoOj0KWg6v7yT5xuO8twT99PFkU18CKt52xjfaRI8RAGUfKASq7SDD2kYc_dDQ48HJxjbcyNMuJgyq8mfm5SIr2OR-8TNptuicV8HoiLmpq19SmQnDYCDSWe/s1600/DSC_0020.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 192px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8F6wu5NXbLG0cN5E_cwP-MoOj0KWg6v7yT5xuO8twT99PFkU18CKt52xjfaRI8RAGUfKASq7SDD2kYc_dDQ48HJxjbcyNMuJgyq8mfm5SIr2OR-8TNptuicV8HoiLmpq19SmQnDYCDSWe/s400/DSC_0020.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615886530767294130" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span">I took the photos early this morning while on a walk. Time was about 7:30am.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">I think they are egg casings. They aren't banana slug eggs. I understand their eggs are clear.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>If you have tons of extra time, visit <a href="http://www.wordlesswednesday.com/newhome/">wordless Wednesday.</a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Banan Appealinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00191235095963686995noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639327567475192400.post-46842616865388237652011-06-06T16:37:00.000-07:002011-06-06T16:37:38.618-07:00<div align="center">Have you ever had one of those days when it doesn't matter how hard you try or how much you want it, </div><div align="center">you just can't get caught up??</div><div align="center">Yesterday was one of those days for me.</div><div align="center">So...I missed the weekly meme over at <a href="http://nevergrowingold.blogspot.com/2011/06/meet-me-on-monday.html">Java's </a></div><div align="center">(you can go and check out other answers, you know, if you want).</div><div align="center">It was about midnight:45 last night (after sewing on snaps for my oldest son's uniform name tag on both his summer shirts) when I realized I hadn't done it and I chose to just turn off the computer and go to bed.</div><div align="center">So, today...I will give you a video that the boys and I think is just too funny and silly almost for words.</div><div align="center">Dole Banana has made some of the <strike>weirdest</strike> funniest commercials....not sure why, but there has been a huge push here to buy...bUY...BUY BANANAS!!!</div><div align="center">The boys found this one that had been subtitled.</div><div align="center">Banana Man.....</div><div align="center">see if you can watch this <em>without</em> smiling.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"> <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Sp8ttwikTEs" width="480"></iframe></div><br />
<div align="center">Have a great week, everyone!!!</div><div align="center">(^-^)</div>dkuroiwahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14702013452096435136noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639327567475192400.post-71225674905421968632011-06-04T06:37:00.000-07:002011-06-04T06:37:00.389-07:00Saturday Snapshot - Good Egg<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifwAzF4vn8Xx7ecZK-e1YL5LjO47_YLYm95Fvyf2SwV9xdKNXVtjUkajNPYTuIybTm75UfddKdhyphenhyphenx_ytpLeijybKuh04j0xsJ2ibPGqalsLbnvFrCgBRQarP6RXpTj-KgUzTS33nUf5Ax7/s1600/birdegg.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 353px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifwAzF4vn8Xx7ecZK-e1YL5LjO47_YLYm95Fvyf2SwV9xdKNXVtjUkajNPYTuIybTm75UfddKdhyphenhyphenx_ytpLeijybKuh04j0xsJ2ibPGqalsLbnvFrCgBRQarP6RXpTj-KgUzTS33nUf5Ax7/s400/birdegg.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614142379076380130" /></a>Found this partial bird egg on the ground, walked the egg over to the convertible top of my VW and snapped this photo.Banan Appealinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00191235095963686995noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639327567475192400.post-57765551461503683892011-06-03T10:23:00.001-07:002011-06-03T10:38:53.067-07:00Weekend Reading<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfZi0ykWd6S9YWfWFfE7liljArGcSEESvim3flQmWab7BHCE0Vq3uzhGkd4rvnpCiEpM8k5mBAsy4vAjgTA2vqtsxttCwJg6PPQm-9ibX0FV2obv23LqTu4RbKANVx6bXouDGxRvU832Qd/s1600/hunger_games_trilogy.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 149px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614045510681004338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfZi0ykWd6S9YWfWFfE7liljArGcSEESvim3flQmWab7BHCE0Vq3uzhGkd4rvnpCiEpM8k5mBAsy4vAjgTA2vqtsxttCwJg6PPQm-9ibX0FV2obv23LqTu4RbKANVx6bXouDGxRvU832Qd/s320/hunger_games_trilogy.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div>I used to be a teacher, worked with kids for years, and was an editor for an educational publishing company, so "young adult" fiction appeals to me somewhat. I like to read what is the hottest topic amongst the teens. I wasn't obsessed with Twilight or Harry Potter, but I do think those authors did a great job with uncovering a niche that kids are fascinated with. So when I heard about the Hunger Games, I was intrigued because many schools are promoting these books because they contain elements of history, politics, and social issues (not romance, sorcery, and vampires!) I read all three in a week--they are super fast reads and actually pretty addicting. I thought the first book "Hunger Games" was fabulous and was disappointed by the other two. That said, I recommend this series to anyone, especially if you have teenage kids. It might be fun to have a book club with your kids and discuss how they feel about the issues in these books and what freedom means to them.<br /><br />Quick plot summary: The main character is 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen (love the name!) who lives in the country of Panem, which once was North America. We don't learn much about what happened to the world in which we live in today, except that it was completely destroyed and the remaining country of Panem is divided into Districts that are ruled by the Capitol, which is run as a dictatorship, where the people have no freedom at all. Every year the Capitol hosts the Hunger Games, where children's names are drawn from a lottery and they compete to the death in an arena. It serves as a reminder to the Districts that the Capitol is in complete control. Katniss's father is dead, leaving her to take care of her mother and younger sister by hunting in the forbidden woods and trying to trade enough to keep her family fed. When her little sister's name gets drawn for the Hunger Games, she immediately takes her place instead. She is paired with Peeta, a boy from her District and off they go to prepare for the games. The rest of the series is Katniss and Peeta's struggle to stay alive and eventually to overthrow the Capitol. This book reads very much like a "1984" book for young adults.<br /><br />My personal take on it: I don't think Suzanne Collins should win any awards for being a great author as the writing is subpar and at times frustratingly bare. However, she is obviously a masterful storyteller and extremely clever to create this believable science fiction world. Give it a chance, at least by reading the first book, to see what you think. </div>Babbling Bananahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17152160884374931272noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639327567475192400.post-4452967252810504032011-06-02T10:54:00.000-07:002011-06-02T10:54:42.308-07:00sassy tat2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0qnwXpMPRfwDRAiuF76rx9rPYTYSYxMsrJDCtuT9N_cRDr6cEixrXJT7ZKTRhAiPmSoqXIY7FDgLp9VyhlQ6s1mKJzSZMk-Mr9gIEwSBGrlTL9YZ9TU8cSLcDLDu5AJEUubwF9d6t6xc/s1600/banana+tatt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0qnwXpMPRfwDRAiuF76rx9rPYTYSYxMsrJDCtuT9N_cRDr6cEixrXJT7ZKTRhAiPmSoqXIY7FDgLp9VyhlQ6s1mKJzSZMk-Mr9gIEwSBGrlTL9YZ9TU8cSLcDLDu5AJEUubwF9d6t6xc/s400/banana+tatt.jpg" t8="true" width="266" /></a></div>Sassy B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02623368386226100339noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639327567475192400.post-4752931255161960172011-06-01T09:32:00.000-07:002011-06-01T09:34:48.127-07:00Wordless Wednesday - Lace<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinDWk2EHXTcNSAG0U1R2jZwaTfD5wDJJw0tcHzGYqdB0sE8WfdWXaAuCsYPAT-5luxpeu5akMIKrEVgPu9lMXvkeAe6cukvB0UbrL03dhJJ66aPVHlAu9yuXFNjwfZoh13cvXPa-pQT2FI/s1600/DSC_0023.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinDWk2EHXTcNSAG0U1R2jZwaTfD5wDJJw0tcHzGYqdB0sE8WfdWXaAuCsYPAT-5luxpeu5akMIKrEVgPu9lMXvkeAe6cukvB0UbrL03dhJJ66aPVHlAu9yuXFNjwfZoh13cvXPa-pQT2FI/s400/DSC_0023.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613290319029072962" /></a><i>For less/more words visit <a href="http://www.wordlesswednesday.com/newhome/">wordless wednesday.</a></i>Banan Appealinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00191235095963686995noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639327567475192400.post-13359899582661446182011-05-30T06:14:00.000-07:002011-05-30T06:32:56.118-07:00meet me NEXT monday...for the meme....<div align="center">Due to the Memorial Day holiday, <a href="http://nevergrowingold.blogspot.com/2011/05/happy-memorial-day.html">Java</a>, the hostess of the regular MeetMeOnMonday meme, is spending the day with her family and there is no meme for us to do today.</div><div align="center">I was going to try and find something else but, I have to admit that I'm tired and I hope to get to bed before midnight tonight. </div><div align="center"> <em>Yeah, I know...good luck, right? (^-^)</em></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">I hope that you all </div><div align="center">(especially those of you celebrating the Memorial Day weekend) </div><div align="center">are having a good one. </div><div align="center">I hope that you are with your family and friends and celebrating what is important....life.</div><div align="center">Please be safe.</div><div align="center">And please....don't forget to give thanks </div><div align="center">to those who gave the utmost of sacrifice </div><div align="center">so we could have the freedom to live our lives the way we want.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-CrW0eexFnGGRrdHk2F8IZ0O0xWDMsStE8Y4TMM46aSdWrpBUIP3nzeLyWb0L-bqtksmHonu3grguDookxjbwKc8iRzFrEXGXrtWfyvx_SCmlrDJmleNT5JLG6uMX1Gxw-NmaT_dMv3k/s1600/memorialday3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-CrW0eexFnGGRrdHk2F8IZ0O0xWDMsStE8Y4TMM46aSdWrpBUIP3nzeLyWb0L-bqtksmHonu3grguDookxjbwKc8iRzFrEXGXrtWfyvx_SCmlrDJmleNT5JLG6uMX1Gxw-NmaT_dMv3k/s1600/memorialday3.jpg" t8="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIzPB4yJj358WrM6t6cVojl9tfSwqizLVwgyyf1CLEsnDFRez9sCgNZbA5KiRZE9IS46HJ_VAXamYgoCo_TdIqhf1DTvRKJ-XyzrqqCsPMbIKAtCb6p05YS1Mmru5gCkuFSrXbhM_2eS8/s1600/memorialday4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIzPB4yJj358WrM6t6cVojl9tfSwqizLVwgyyf1CLEsnDFRez9sCgNZbA5KiRZE9IS46HJ_VAXamYgoCo_TdIqhf1DTvRKJ-XyzrqqCsPMbIKAtCb6p05YS1Mmru5gCkuFSrXbhM_2eS8/s1600/memorialday4.jpg" t8="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpCtuMB2bc7a-t8OrpXml14bKBfQA3meE6wVl7J-qOBdO7vVKlFQLNnAONOiwaSz18yjUJ1E82ccamEa_ziwo4qd66Gus6QwtSolnszjpZVC4ECSXKH6fwZBGSjDQdh1zMWSlH3BcPqfI/s1600/memorialday5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpCtuMB2bc7a-t8OrpXml14bKBfQA3meE6wVl7J-qOBdO7vVKlFQLNnAONOiwaSz18yjUJ1E82ccamEa_ziwo4qd66Gus6QwtSolnszjpZVC4ECSXKH6fwZBGSjDQdh1zMWSlH3BcPqfI/s1600/memorialday5.jpg" t8="true" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">*all images borrowed from GoogleImages....</span></em></div>dkuroiwahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14702013452096435136noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639327567475192400.post-31438534273829764952011-05-29T12:03:00.001-07:002011-05-29T12:03:50.870-07:00Memorial Day<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHWXTJMXq_ZQLJ0oLekGXaex7AbhTrc9fyxuY8b7Dg61jYITgQcC8O4kE2OCivRg_8f_StWsnOfpdTKuswLXMINSB4O8ihj-kwseOfe82J_DKChlKypc08fkkPEeBD380KOf3wrLHJYDzY/s1600/DSC_0194.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 385px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHWXTJMXq_ZQLJ0oLekGXaex7AbhTrc9fyxuY8b7Dg61jYITgQcC8O4kE2OCivRg_8f_StWsnOfpdTKuswLXMINSB4O8ihj-kwseOfe82J_DKChlKypc08fkkPEeBD380KOf3wrLHJYDzY/s400/DSC_0194.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612215821288984578" /></a>Banan Appealinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00191235095963686995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639327567475192400.post-47452662238305784202011-05-23T08:16:00.000-07:002011-05-23T08:16:10.890-07:00Meet Me on Monday.....with Debbie<div align="center">It's that day of the week, my friends....Java, over at <a href="http://nevergrowingold.blogspot.com/">NeverGrowingOld</a>, has posted her </div><div align="center">questions for the weekly meme she sponsors. </div><div align="center"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><u><span style="color: #741b47;">Questions:</span></u></em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><br />
<em><u><span style="color: #741b47;"></span></u></em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><u><span style="color: #741b47;">1. What is your favorite bagel flavor?</span></u></em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNRCRcifBxiPTP4cwTCD2m0CZmY-qXqY6N3Us3PoEjkyrAR1gjttW1MZVYE1QhBdexr4K-a_uCpk8QQzlrHcd_vo9Tfp1kEMwiPcxBqy5fKwWYRVLi2BNdJSRMaI24U7pHTPgSW-nGRb0/s1600/meme1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNRCRcifBxiPTP4cwTCD2m0CZmY-qXqY6N3Us3PoEjkyrAR1gjttW1MZVYE1QhBdexr4K-a_uCpk8QQzlrHcd_vo9Tfp1kEMwiPcxBqy5fKwWYRVLi2BNdJSRMaI24U7pHTPgSW-nGRb0/s1600/meme1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center">OOh....I do love me a good bagel, but a cinnamon-raisin one is probably my 'bagel of choice'.<br />
And....if you throw on some peanut butter and maybe a little honey?</div><div align="center">Oh yeah. That'll do just fine.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><u><span style="color: #741b47;">2. If you had an extra $100 right now, what would you spend it on?</span></u></em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;">As the <strike>incredibly wet and grossly humid </strike>'rainy season' is soon upon us, </div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm in dire need of a new hairstyle....so</div><div style="text-align: center;">i would take that $100 and treat myself to</div><div style="text-align: center;">a cut...maybe a perm....possibly a whole new style.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij2U-ufOY2QjQNs71ZZFHLf_aqwCZs1-m4IcjU-SYP6TfG78GCTFpEjQ6OWXc3NFhS5Qd3fqB39P51lSDsYzdAqJE7sr72__ccRK_3-s7Q82tSRMgYp30gixpOXxQIlVcHmNLAqq9cNlI/s1600/meme2b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij2U-ufOY2QjQNs71ZZFHLf_aqwCZs1-m4IcjU-SYP6TfG78GCTFpEjQ6OWXc3NFhS5Qd3fqB39P51lSDsYzdAqJE7sr72__ccRK_3-s7Q82tSRMgYp30gixpOXxQIlVcHmNLAqq9cNlI/s1600/meme2b.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><u><span style="color: #741b47;">3. What is the last thing that you felt guilt about doing?</span></u></em></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8J4Nf32EJ7vsSSYnsgFH0Gc41t3_LEHfDSzE7KscUwOgTiqr8IjT57PjT5SOOzAcQCZhk-b0Kxs5fFlORDDc_t-m1wsFnAWUtmFcCsLsLqDbyeb9OuFpBokIFhQG6RMIaGz-LELNsjfA/s1600/meme3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8J4Nf32EJ7vsSSYnsgFH0Gc41t3_LEHfDSzE7KscUwOgTiqr8IjT57PjT5SOOzAcQCZhk-b0Kxs5fFlORDDc_t-m1wsFnAWUtmFcCsLsLqDbyeb9OuFpBokIFhQG6RMIaGz-LELNsjfA/s320/meme3.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There were three <strike>very small</strike> cookies left over from the ones I had made the other night for </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">youngest son's <em>undokai</em> (sports day/ field day) yesterday. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They were peanut butter-chocolate chip cookie bars.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They kicked some major cookie butt.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tonight...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">when i came home....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">it was late...it was raining...I dropped my bag outside in the water...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and I realized that most of the mini-tomatoes i had bought were well on their way to going bad and really inedible.....so.....I did what any deserving mom would do...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I ate the cookies.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Before dinner.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Without anyone else noticing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oh.....my.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I just realized that I don't feel guilty at all about this.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Next question!! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><u><span style="color: #741b47;">4. Soft serve ice cream or hand dipped?</span></u></em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlK-8H4ppCxBKIeAfJVNC2JjcCkUcvbVpCpcO7LF0CuU9NoMc4S4hUTnyxkvRSPe72WWZvzFxBq5VBG6mp7tl5y1oaLJHtQBPNd9Xy9btuMSgs0MhQ8TCi6h-xoaDq8Z-Vw8qKwAdGzPg/s1600/meme4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlK-8H4ppCxBKIeAfJVNC2JjcCkUcvbVpCpcO7LF0CuU9NoMc4S4hUTnyxkvRSPe72WWZvzFxBq5VBG6mp7tl5y1oaLJHtQBPNd9Xy9btuMSgs0MhQ8TCi6h-xoaDq8Z-Vw8qKwAdGzPg/s1600/meme4.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hand dipped.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hands down.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yum.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><u><span style="color: #741b47;">5. Are you allergic to anything?</span></u></em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">I've never had any kind of allergy testing done....and</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">other than the usual pollen sniffles and sneezes I get on occasion....</div><div style="text-align: center;">I can honestly say that</div><div style="text-align: center;">really....</div><div style="text-align: center;">there is only one true thing I do believe I'm allergic to....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo5rX63XS5n7ADtcTQun-IQyP2BA3i4ekTZ55vZE9cfLByaZlig7ML8WCJIIYZ_sDjl48Uh01b6iL2RJyCjshtMnfDFAQpzeN2arv58ySizINdL7Zf_6giIRQL5c3bOzmG6OQIUzrHKOE/s1600/meme5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo5rX63XS5n7ADtcTQun-IQyP2BA3i4ekTZ55vZE9cfLByaZlig7ML8WCJIIYZ_sDjl48Uh01b6iL2RJyCjshtMnfDFAQpzeN2arv58ySizINdL7Zf_6giIRQL5c3bOzmG6OQIUzrHKOE/s1600/meme5.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><strong>What about you?</strong></span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">**************</span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">Have a great week everyone.</span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>dkuroiwahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14702013452096435136noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639327567475192400.post-10679517603037216862011-05-22T07:07:00.000-07:002011-05-22T07:07:00.987-07:00I'm A Gettin<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvNrKVJbVsBhEbtN_SbhXbxdVhpuxgx07VBfbUmZT0Dzzxkg37f0uQVewaxSiEbz3QBdTYnxh7aPEZT_HQrXlKsKp88L4ZW0lKx59b9eCVs9LLns6ss-nE_NKFTn0V8mjfjvo_F5wmdXcg/s1600/bananajesus1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 378px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvNrKVJbVsBhEbtN_SbhXbxdVhpuxgx07VBfbUmZT0Dzzxkg37f0uQVewaxSiEbz3QBdTYnxh7aPEZT_HQrXlKsKp88L4ZW0lKx59b9eCVs9LLns6ss-nE_NKFTn0V8mjfjvo_F5wmdXcg/s400/bananajesus1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608923727171259010" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A banana with Jesus on it in honor of May 21st rapture.</div>Banan Appealinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00191235095963686995noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639327567475192400.post-33722432669442903862011-05-21T07:54:00.000-07:002011-05-21T07:54:00.250-07:00Saturday Snapshot: Mother & Child Reunion<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipPVBivViqQmMzP9PqGBiBSb1ka1I4uOB1Zpn60gD6s10d3aAZGkKbOvRhmCIfm2BkX31nqYL8M_zZGnfeurUQnTRQZM9wmn0z4wqLKMUvuHMdp0bxCW6R4d9X_1kbwFciNk2mn-F03-ML/s1600/DSC_0001.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipPVBivViqQmMzP9PqGBiBSb1ka1I4uOB1Zpn60gD6s10d3aAZGkKbOvRhmCIfm2BkX31nqYL8M_zZGnfeurUQnTRQZM9wmn0z4wqLKMUvuHMdp0bxCW6R4d9X_1kbwFciNk2mn-F03-ML/s400/DSC_0001.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608920477150611810" /></a>Banan Appealinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00191235095963686995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639327567475192400.post-65635023327458035092011-05-20T11:09:00.000-07:002011-05-20T11:38:52.719-07:00Weekend Reading<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzbVIZfdcg1FnEpFaaOJDgcCvbJtl74h6l6nV8QZFyCfqk5ZqVGEopihXaRQPgXr9QrXgH6GP9WtOMBwj1YfzKBVxZQhqswuAxHcK4gKjl2-m8f5v190NRbJDSyK1C9CfvWtyec9Cyz71M/s1600/9510-review_jpg_full_600.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608862182831234722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzbVIZfdcg1FnEpFaaOJDgcCvbJtl74h6l6nV8QZFyCfqk5ZqVGEopihXaRQPgXr9QrXgH6GP9WtOMBwj1YfzKBVxZQhqswuAxHcK4gKjl2-m8f5v190NRbJDSyK1C9CfvWtyec9Cyz71M/s320/9510-review_jpg_full_600.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div>I am ashamed to admit that I just read this novel. Yes, I am like a year behind the times. I know all the craze surrounding this book has already died off, but they are releasing a movie of it this summer, so I thought hey, might as well offer up a review for anyone who didn't read this book last year! For those of you who don't know, there was a lot of controversy surrounding this book... it ranged from praise (it is a New York Times bestseller) to hatred (some people feel it is racist.) I thought I'd offer up my honest opinion in case anyone in the Sassy Banana world wants to know! So here goes:<br /><br />Yes, this novel has faults. The biggest one being that the black maids speak in a very heavy dialect. Personally, I think this was written well and feel that author Kathryn Stockett allowed us to "hear" their voices. Some people feel it is too cliche and contrived. However, the white women in this book speak perfect grammatically correct English with not so much as a hint of Southern slang. I felt this at times to be a bit distracting and a bit unbelievable. That being said, the plot and characters and emotion behind this novel far outweigh any of the negatives.<br /><br />This book takes place during the Civil Rights movement in Jackson, Mississippi. The story is told through the eyes of two African American maids--Aibileen and Minny, as well as the white "heroine" of the story--Miss Skeeter, a young college grad who is grasping to find her place in the world. Through the eyes of these three women, you are witness to the daily lives of Southern maids and their dealings with their white women employers. Skeeter bravely decides to write a book written as a series of narrative accounts of black maids and what it is like for them to work for these white women. The story progresses as Skeeter begins to build relationships with Aibileen and Minny as they tell her their stories, and as she simultaneously loses the friendships with the white women that were once her best friends.<br /><br />There are brilliant moments of truth throughout this novel--my favorite scenes involve Celia, a young married woman desperate to fit in with the high society clique but simply cannot shake her poverty roots. Another moment that really made me think is when Skeeter tells her fiancee about the book she is writing. His response is: "I don't understand why you would do this. Why do you even... <em>care</em> about this, Skeeter?" That line really put the whole novel into perspective for me. It wasn't that the majority of the white characters were racist (although some definitely were), it was simply that they didn't care to change anything. The apathy of them all is what was the most disgusting.<br /><br />Guess I have said enough. This book is a very quick read (I finished in one weekend) and whether you agree or disagree with the author's authority and knowledge to write such a book, I promise that it is a guaranteed page turner. Check out more about the upcoming film <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1454029/">here</a>.</div>Babbling Bananahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17152160884374931272noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639327567475192400.post-87087878780482208922011-05-18T08:22:00.000-07:002011-05-18T08:24:25.600-07:00Wordless Wednesday - Curiosity<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioTAvo32kzNDMVbjfCzhtb70d_xWCIKhIzppwU5RFqz_zrJxPjfWJ1W1LGsZP3az7f5tt4equrqM1c8YN9n_hU4TYo8ZmEG-ST0RIf81pf5_hfgpO-rFj1KERtxYjI5z6BRBvgicfUxMMp/s1600/carwindowbella.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 164px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioTAvo32kzNDMVbjfCzhtb70d_xWCIKhIzppwU5RFqz_zrJxPjfWJ1W1LGsZP3az7f5tt4equrqM1c8YN9n_hU4TYo8ZmEG-ST0RIf81pf5_hfgpO-rFj1KERtxYjI5z6BRBvgicfUxMMp/s200/carwindowbella.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608077147537739714" /></a>My dog looking out of the car window. Photo taken May 17 on my way to work.Banan Appealinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00191235095963686995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639327567475192400.post-64638478541441529392011-05-16T12:30:00.000-07:002011-05-17T17:51:02.077-07:00Fair Trade<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/AVvXsEhZnAB9AcUBktjkFvRRjFY2K-NEbBotivv-dOZ-pSSsoCmH8B0UqOoMPVMpXlRQbhM3b29AUsw4YfZMGWBzBmROXh2iwIPtVW4v4KFGWTaR9RD3ZM4ZfIXZGMP5jUS5vSsIQIH5QydV3RY/s1600/go+bananas+fair+trade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZnAB9AcUBktjkFvRRjFY2K-NEbBotivv-dOZ-pSSsoCmH8B0UqOoMPVMpXlRQbhM3b29AUsw4YfZMGWBzBmROXh2iwIPtVW4v4KFGWTaR9RD3ZM4ZfIXZGMP5jUS5vSsIQIH5QydV3RY/s1600/go+bananas+fair+trade.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Go Bananas for Fair Trade</td></tr>
</tbody></table>GOOD <br />
When it comes to protecting the environment, there's a reason why fair trade bananas are the best <a href="http://su.pr/1Gj9E3">http://su.pr/1Gj9E3</a> with @benandjerrys<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">[Photo source:<a href="http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/gobananas/"> here</a>]</span>Banan Appealinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00191235095963686995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639327567475192400.post-3817312764236909482011-05-16T08:28:00.000-07:002011-05-16T08:28:27.725-07:00Meet Debbie (and others!) on Monday...<div align="center">It's Monday evening here...the house is quiet and I think that Dr. House is about to start so I'll get this week's meme from Java over at <a href="http://nevergrowingold.blogspot.com/2011/05/meet-me-on-monday_15.html">Never Growing Old</a> up and on its way.</div><div align="center">If you want to answer the questions, please do.</div><div align="center">Getting to know each other is what makes this whole blogging thing just a </div><div align="center">little bit better.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Here we go:</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><u><em><span style="color: #4c1130;">1. Crunchy or smooth peanut butter?</span></em></u></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><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/AVvXsEjuEH2y3St8uq18C4_zr69d-s32kU-L1WXJFOAbjEDYEUetgcp75GGaAoEENYMQvkolNVnt0wePSnjlqjRECzN5Zw3I2PFGHBpLMS-Oe2aOOUjrZVdlpVLoDTySObZPl2xRf7Y7ZS7a9cg/s1600/meme1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuEH2y3St8uq18C4_zr69d-s32kU-L1WXJFOAbjEDYEUetgcp75GGaAoEENYMQvkolNVnt0wePSnjlqjRECzN5Zw3I2PFGHBpLMS-Oe2aOOUjrZVdlpVLoDTySObZPl2xRf7Y7ZS7a9cg/s1600/meme1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em><strong>*and really....we have this tub, right now, in our cabinet...it's the one we jokingly refer to as </strong></em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em><strong>"the jar as big as Koji's head" jar of peanut butter....it doesn't come</strong></em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em><strong>any smaller at CostCo.*</strong></em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><u><em><span style="color: #4c1130;">2. What is your favorite color Rose?</span></em></u></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Though roses of yellow or pink will make me happy,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">sterling ones? Yeah. they make me swoon.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhluWCxqSpHem0iM_w_nyMPiAFw-r2_DnfGMHJ_f-oJuRf1O_0S6i5j0EibZOZtBpZCCsrKrfm1DGClsQMD8AUszQ91G7hfkm4iptot8mGUIy43uH83fQ9vI11lnqEaCqYGcTbxeyHbZgI/s1600/meme2b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhluWCxqSpHem0iM_w_nyMPiAFw-r2_DnfGMHJ_f-oJuRf1O_0S6i5j0EibZOZtBpZCCsrKrfm1DGClsQMD8AUszQ91G7hfkm4iptot8mGUIy43uH83fQ9vI11lnqEaCqYGcTbxeyHbZgI/s1600/meme2b.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><u><em><span style="color: #4c1130;">3. Do you remove your shoes when you walk into your home?</span></em></u></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Do not take this sarcastic, but...hello?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">I live in Japan.</div><div style="text-align: center;">In the 20 years I've lived here, I can honestly tell you that maybe...<strong><em>maybe</em></strong> ...I've left my shoes on less than 10 times. But....as I was probably wearing lace-up shoes and I had left my coffee or cell phone on the table, I always said an apology to whatever Gods were standing over me. But, as I'm pretty sure they understood how I feel about my coffee and cell phone, I've been let off the hook.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The entrance way in our house....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeZHBpaI75OczkIjVXZNe83q7PXxXWIy9x-8t0eaXQBGr01D0HXOj_aXP1YkkWFTUKw9yY9sELmG-mI17eSOpLsciAI_xv7ONRxAB8ZtLLkYtvUV2g0aqXy3qqmjPhwecNGevXZTIw34o/s1600/meme3A+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeZHBpaI75OczkIjVXZNe83q7PXxXWIy9x-8t0eaXQBGr01D0HXOj_aXP1YkkWFTUKw9yY9sELmG-mI17eSOpLsciAI_xv7ONRxAB8ZtLLkYtvUV2g0aqXy3qqmjPhwecNGevXZTIw34o/s320/meme3A+002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><u><em><span style="color: #4c1130;">4. What is your favorite season?</span></em></u></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnV2ydZDWAVAKQjf4tLFT19l9eYQSjd_LfYROdbX-NQAZh2BGvVRo6LFOdqsNIpLVsuqdr-0Hudilu2AONeIddL5OxkVug8XDezGVvROCA9k234CKDEpKwK8eTdk04yOl55CeCHQSTTK4/s1600/meme3.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnV2ydZDWAVAKQjf4tLFT19l9eYQSjd_LfYROdbX-NQAZh2BGvVRo6LFOdqsNIpLVsuqdr-0Hudilu2AONeIddL5OxkVug8XDezGVvROCA9k234CKDEpKwK8eTdk04yOl55CeCHQSTTK4/s1600/meme3.bmp" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><u><em><span style="color: #4c1130;">5. Approximately how many hours a day do you spend blogging?</span></em></u></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;">The answer to this question varies.</div><div style="text-align: center;">My family will say "too many"....and sometimes, I think, "not enough".</div><div style="text-align: center;">Actually....these days, I've become a bit of a slacker, so it's probably closer</div><div style="text-align: center;">to an hour or so a day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaN_EZikBQzUT2uweFUX4CtHICTaJLWqb_0MSN5vE3RvHKUg1duyYQ4cX5D8PgBo55FxIfhfotvPcZ3f28nkcCzARV_SboV04PzAqI5cpn5WIG4cLAgTKvb9F5oJIoDWTJj6S6yfSImtE/s1600/meme5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaN_EZikBQzUT2uweFUX4CtHICTaJLWqb_0MSN5vE3RvHKUg1duyYQ4cX5D8PgBo55FxIfhfotvPcZ3f28nkcCzARV_SboV04PzAqI5cpn5WIG4cLAgTKvb9F5oJIoDWTJj6S6yfSImtE/s1600/meme5.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
Have a great Monday....and may it be a sign for what the week will bring.</div>dkuroiwahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14702013452096435136noreply@blogger.com3