Interesting Statistic

"During World War I, civilians made up fewer than 5 percent of all casualties. Today, 75 percent or more of those killed or wounded in wars are non-combatants. "

(From globalsecurity.org.)

I find it fascinating that as technology has advanced in all things military, it looks like the application of military conflict is going <<< backwards.

I was just peeking...

...around my "Favorites" folders. Every so often I find websites I'd bookmarked and forgotten and it's almost like finding a $20 bill in your winter coat pocket the first time you put your coat on for the season.

My "Blog" folder is by far, the largest of the 39 folders I have. In the "Blog" folder I have 62 websites bookmarked. SIXTY-TWO! Why?

Not all of the links in my "Blog" folder are actually blogs. I went back and counted how many were - 33 links are actually blogs. One link gets me to the page where I can post to my own blog. The rest are all interesting links of things that piqued my interest that I thought I'd blog about. That's 28 links!

I better get to work on that. I will. After I finish the trim in the basement family room and after I finish the brick entryway in the backyard and after the driveway is sealcoated and after all the mulch is put down on the *work-in-progress* garden area....

Someday I figure I'm gonna go on strike from the house and have a blog-a-thon. Your heads will spin when I get going, lol!

Back from Vegas!

My baby sister is married! Fun!

Thursday, my mom, my middle sis, and I flew to Las Vegas. Dropped our stuff off at the hotel and started walking down The Strip a bit to see some sights. That night, sis and I took the ride up the Eiffel Tower. I'm a bit acrophobic, so I was a sorta nervous. The ride in the elevator was rough for me, (darn windows in the elevator!) but the observation deck was GREAT! (Give me a solid floor, sturdy and tall railings, and thick fencing to keep everything in, and I'm fine!) The views were fantastic and we watched the fountains at the Bellagio across the street from there. It was so neat! (And the breeze was nice too!)

Then we crashed in bed that night and got up Friday and saw more sights. I loved watching the fountains again and also the conservatory and gardens in the Bellagio too. Just a beautiful place. After all the walking in the heat, sis and I hit the pool for a bit. We had fun playing *real or not?*. Heh heh. That evening the three of us played some slot machines. I wasn't doing good on the slot machines, but mom and sis were doing ok. (Mom was up $100 and sis was up $150.)

Saturday was the wedding. It was HOT!!! It was 113ºF that day (compared to my wedding day when it was 39ºF below. Only a 152ºF difference!! LOL!!!) Baby sis met us in our room to get ready. Middle sis made us almost late for the wedding because she's a controlling brat. (Grrr. I have LOTS of complaints about her over the weekend.... Let's just say, I'm NOT going on a trip with her EVER AGAIN, lol.)

The wedding was really nice. Short and sweet. Then we went to lunch with everyone at a really yummy Italian restaurant. (There were about 35 people in town for the wedding.) After a ride back to the hotel (my first time in a limo!), everyone was off on their own. We all went back to our rooms and changed into comfy clothes. Although, I would've been fine to walk around all dressed up all day, but baby sis isn't into all that attention and wanted to get changed. And middle sis was complaining about how she was uncomfortable in the dress and shoes.

That evening, I was hoping to get to the old downtown part of Vegas and see Freemont Street, but mom and sis pooped out on me, and baby sis and her hubby had dinner plans with a couple friends that night who were only in town for the one day for their wedding. I was bummed because mom and sis were being such wet blankets - they were complaining by 8pm about how tired they were, so they wouldn't go downtown with me, but somehow they were able to stay up until 11pm in the casino.... >:(

I won a little on a couple slot machines that night, so I ended up only losing about $25 total in gambling. (I was hoping to come home with more money than I left with though. Darn.)
Sunday we were up early for our flight home. The flight went well, the drive home went fine, and I was more than happy to drop my sis off at her house, lolol. (Who says siblings are great?!?!? My baby sis and I get along fine, but middle sis can drive me up a wall!!!!) I made it home just in time to see hubby for a few minutes before he had to go to work for the night.

Monday, when I got up, my internet wouldn't work. :( I tried all day to get online with no luck. I was soooo pooped though, I took a nap for a little bit that afternoon and then the three of us grabbed a bit of dinner before dh went to work. Then ds played with some neighborhood kids and I mowed the lawn. Later last night, a friend stopped by when she got done with work at 10pm, so she and I sat out in the garden swing I have in the front yard and watched the heat lightning and had a couple drinks.

Now my internet is working today (woo hoo!) and I'm playing catch-up online and around the house! I'm looking forward to going back to Vegas sometime - I really enjoyed it! More than I thought I would!

What is yellow?

At a holiday barbecue yesterday, the subject came up: From the song "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini", is the bikini yellow or are the polka dots yellow?

A spirited discussion ensued. And now, I want your thoughts. Is the bikini yellow? Are the polka dots yellow?

Here are the lyrics for reference:

She was afraid to come out of the locker
She was as nervous as she could be
She was afraid to come out of the locker
She was afraid that somebody would see

Two three four tell the people what she wore

It was an Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini
That she wore for the first time today
An Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini
So in the locker, she wanted to stay

Two three four stick around we'll tell you more

She was afraid to come out in the open
So a blanket around her she wore
She was afraid to come out in the open
So she sat, bundled up on the shore

Two three four tell the people what she wore

It was an Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini
That she wore for the first time today
An Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini
So in the blanket, she wanted to stay

Two three four the stick around we'll tell you more

Now she's afraid to come out of the water
And I wonder what she's gonna do
Now she's afraid to come out of the water
And the poor little girl's turning blue

Two thee four tell the people what she wore

It was an Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini
That she wore for the first time today
An Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini
So in the water, she wanted to stay

From the Locker to the blanket
From the blanket to the shore
From the shore to the water
Guess there isnt any more

Celebrating Independence

We're all taking time this weekend to celebrate the birth of our nation. For most of us, that involves cookouts, fireworks, picnics, or parades. It involves food and drink and fun. I'm sure none of us would complain about a long weekend in the middle of summer to enjoy with family or friends. (If you are so lucky to have a long weekend to enjoy!) But why all the celebration? Just what are we celebrating?

This is what we are celebrating. Take a moment to read it over. Sometimes the antiquated language makes it difficult to understand. The link I gave you to read has sections underlined. If you click on the underlined sections, it will describe what that section means.

Unfortunately, the original copy has become very faded due to poor preservation techniques in the past. If you are ever lucky enough, you can still visit the original copy in person in Washington D.C. at the National Archives Building. Through the National Archives website, you can add your signature to the Declaration of Independence. I encourage you to read the introduction instead of skipping it. (It's not long.) Then choose your quill and sign your name. After clicking submit, read the next page carefully. It really puts into perspective what our Founding Fathers put at risk but felt they had to do to gain our nation's independence.

This weekend, as you eat your burger and potato salad, reflect on the reason you are celebrating. And offer a toast to the Founding Fathers.