<p>MUDGE, Baby!
You're turning me on in those leather pants! Come on, dance with me - the juke's playing our song ("Stayin' Alive" by the Bee Gees...) </p>
<p>No Sybbie, I asked first. You can have him next round...</p>
<p>"tequila with a tequila chaser" was a LOL. I'll take one!</p>
<p>Audiophile - congrats on your D getting the apps out.</p>
<p>Alu, a Zombie for you, my dear! :) It's THAT time of year! (Heh, I made a rhyme...) Then, have a beer. (heh, heh) :)</p>
<p>Anyhoo, let's all raise our glasses, jugs (that doesn't sound right), tankards, and industrial-size containers of Ensure to Audio's D who got not one, not two, but THREE apps out last week! Welcome to the suburbs of Nirvana, Audio. ;)</p>
<p>Moved our D into her first, real apartment today. All three of her foreign-exchange housemates at the on-campus International apartments turned out to be big-time binge drinkers. She could tell that things weren't going to get any better, and it was time to move off-campus. Kamikaze-style, we spent last weekend looking at apts and found a really good one. Not fancy and not new, but she has the most incredible view of a canyon. Signed the lease today, and she got her new key. They had a bottle of Martinelli's and two plastic champagne glasses waiting for her when she opened the door. :) </p>
<p>The sun was setting, and the coyotes howled and yipped and sang her a real welcome. Actually, they (the coyotes) were thanking me for unpacking her kitchen stuff while she went shopping for a critical, last-minute Zombie accessory. I enjoyed their wild, little serenade. Thanks, coyotes! :)</p>
<p>Yeah, even I'm climbing off the wagon (well, the WINE wagon) to have a zombie with you and AlumMother, Slugg because this pressure to get all A's since kindergarten is making me nervous, too. In fact, I'm getting eczema on my thumbs even thinking about it (or could that be from squeezing so many limes into Sluggs enless array of intoxic concoctions?)</p>
<p>Come on, Alum - when you look back on all the greatest moments in your life, how many include a vision of being handed back a paper with an A on it? Now, I might like the fact that my Ph.D. committee actually thought I wrote an exemplary dissertation (much to their chagrin and surprise because I think they were ready to give me the boot) but this not a prevailing memory in my beenie when I lay awake on breezy moonlit nights reviewing my life....</p>
<p>In the wider realm of things, a freshman year of mild adjusting will not do her in (even though it may you...!) She's at Princeton with the turf lawns and the gorgeous, smart men, and the wonderful Mid-Atlantic falls...she'' regret not taking some time to can let her hair down for a bit - she's in her full bloom! She needs to enjoy it.</p>
<p>OK. Last statement on the ill-fated thread. </p>
<p>I know it's good for her to let her hair down. I know I need to fish my own desire for her academic achievement out of the mix. I know that she is not me, and just because (this is a true story) one of the highlights of my life WAS studying for the Literary Theory exam I got an A+ on - not the grade but the studying, doesn't mean she will be the same way. I started that g-d thread for two reasons. One, a quick vent so I could take some pressure off myself and keep my mouth shut around her re: grades. Two, an absolutely straightforward and emotion unladen question. "Does it matter for anything I don't know about if she doesn't get A?". I wanted advice from those parents already looking ahead to grad school etc. because I had not done any research.</p>
<p>The part about lightening up I already knew. I was asking if there was any reason NOT to lighten up, not needing advice TO lighten up. Only maybe a little reinforcement around what my conscience already told me about backing off. Oh well.</p>
<p>OK. I will never say another word on the topic.</p>
<p>So a humble request. I think any more reference to my thread and I will exhaust any and all good will I had built up here on cc. Which would make me sad. So let's go back to the disco topic, huh? Or how about reggae? I put Lively Up Yourself as my yearbook quote in 1978....</p>
<p>Nah. Let's go back to GREAT clothes of the 1970's! Did anybody else have a shiny stretchy blue long-sleeved bell-bottomed one-piece jumpsuit complete with big zip and even BIGGER peace-sign zip pull? (Handsewn by Mom.... maybe your mom made one for you, too?) Or how about red,blue,yellow vertically striped bell-bottom hip-huggers worn with a 2-inch wide blue suede belt? Come on, guys - surely you had some of those?</p>
<p>
[Quote]
I put Lively Up Yourself as my yearbook quote in 1978....
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</p>
<p>My kids are tired of hearing this story, so I'll tell it here: W & I were sitting at a piano bar at a beautiful resort in Negril, Jamaica. People were calling out Marley songs for the pianist to play and all were singing along. Someone calls out "Exodus", the pianist starts playing the theme song from the Leon Uris/Paul Newman movie. Got a big laugh from everyone (he probably does it every night).</p>
<p>I went to a resort in Negril in 1978. Only it was the kind of place that had toga parties so there was no piano player in sight....And I didn't have a shiny stretchy jumpsuit but I did have a tshirt with the American flag on it and a pair of laced up round toed blue suede shoes with chunky high heels. And Frye boots.</p>
<p>I know that resort, it has an appropriate name. We were at the Grand Lido across the road.</p>
<p>I would like to direct your attention to the cross-stitch hanging on the wall next to the Sinner's Alley unisex Potty Palace. It's pretty dark back there, but it says...</p>
<p>"Be Kind to Your Web-Footed Friends,
For that Duck may be Somebody's Mother.<br>
Be kind to your Friends in the Swamp,<br>
Where the Weather is very, very Damp.
Well, you May think that This is the End,
And it is."</p>
<p>Some regard it as an homage to our rich history of "a guy walks into a bar with a duck under his arm" jokes, which we love almost as much as Sybbie's basket dancing, but it is our sacred creed set forth by our own beloved founder, doddsdad. (Well, I dunno, I just made that up.) :) Anyway, be nice to ducks, and have a Spooktacular Halloween! :D</p>
<p>Alu, one of my favorite memories was also studying full-tilt-boogie to get the A in the class where according to legend, "A's could not be had." Also, the prof was an a$$hole. So it was a spite A and a vengeance A and a stealth mission to be so perfect that there would be no denying the A. </p>
<p>One other very determined maniac and I did it together, and it was soooooo much fun (only a nerd could understand this). We had a BALL doing it, and we pulled it off.</p>
<p>I think it would have made that guy's head explode to grant the "+".... </p>
<p>I later heard that "our notes" (which I nicely gave to a kid the year behind me) were being SOLD from year to year for quite a while....!</p>
<p>
[quote]
Some regard it as an homage to our rich history of "a guy walks into a bar with a duck under his arm" jokes, which we love almost as much as Sybbie's basket dancing, but it is our sacred creed set forth by our own beloved founder, doddsdad. (Well, I dunno, I just made that up.)
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Geez Slugg, you didn't have to add the last parenthetical comment...I was looking good there for awhile :cool:...Just tell me you didn't make up the part about "beloved." That was my favorite part. </p>
<p>
[quote]
I think we spend enough time planning, worrying, obsessing, beating ourselves up, and making our children crazy. I think we should have a place to go 24/7 for Happy Hour. Sinners Alley Happy Hour should be used to tell about something that went right, or tell an amusing anecdote, or maybe a joke. The emphasis should be on fun and if you want to be taken seriously, it is probably not the right place to hang out.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I did provide that part of our creed and I'm kinda proud of our mission statement! Let's get on with it!</p>
<p>SBmom, per your "note selling" story. I went to school with a shorthand court reporter who went back to college for a career change. Her sales put her through. Well, almost paid for her beer and tostadas.Close, It was so common the Prof would stop and say-"Ms. So and So was wrong here. Correct this." During his lecture. She even put in his jokes!</p>
<p>I guess I was in Sinner's Alley Sad Hour:). </p>
<p>I don't really know any jokes. But did anyone ever see the website with the Spong Monkeys singing? It got used briefly as a Togo's commercial or some sub shop, I don't remember. They were hilarious.</p>
<p>I guess that's still not a joke. Hmm. Can we do karaoke instead?</p>
<p>Okay, Alu, this'll cheer you up. My baby sis sent it to me, today.</p>
<p>Have you ever spoken and wished that you could immediately take the words back or that you could crawl into a hole? Here are the testimonials of a few people who did...</p>
<p>I walked into a hair salon with my husband and three kids in tow and asked loudly, "How much do you charge for a shampoo and a blow job?" I turned around and walked back out and never went back. My husband didn't say a word. He knew better.</p>
<p>I was at the golf store comparing different kinds of golf balls. I was unhappy with the women's type I had been using. After browsing for several minutes, I was approached by one of the good-looking gentlemen who works at the store. He asked if he could help me. Without thinking, I looked at him and said, "I think I like playing with men's balls."</p>
<p>This had most of the state of Michigan laughing for 2 days and a very embarrassed female news anchor who will, in the future, likely think before she speaks. What happens when you predict snow but don't get any? A true story. We had a female news anchor who, the day after it was supposed to have snowed and didn't, turned to the weatherman and asked: "So Bob, where's that 8 inches you promised me last night?" Not only did HE have to leave the set, but half the crew did too!</p>
<p>You guys already know my story about how I was shopping at Nordstrom's one Christmas, and I was hunting around in the men's department looking for my H's usual gift. A stunningly gorgeous male sales clerk walked up behind me, and asked, "Can I help you find something?" When I turned around and saw this Adonis, I blurted out, "YES, I'm looking for some sex --I mean, SOCKS!" Then, I slithered out of there, like the lowly worm that I was. :o</p>
<p>Ping! Ping! Ping! *alum pitches a few peanuts at cheers. :o</p>
<p>Here's a mea culpa story:</p>
<p>Subject: Singles Ad</p>
<p>One of the best singles ads ever printed. It is reported to have been
listed in The Atlanta Journal.</p>
<p>SINGLE BLACK FEMALE seeks male companionship, ethnicity unimportant.
I'm a very good looking girl who LOVES to play. I love long walks in the
woods, riding in your pickup truck, hunting, camping and fishing
trips, cozy winter nights lying by the fire. Candlelight dinners will
have me eating out of your hand. I'll be at the front door when you get
home from work, wearing only what nature gave me.
Call (404)875-6420 and ask for Daisy, I'll be waiting...</p>
<p>Over 15,000 men found themselves talking to the Atlanta Humane Society
about an 8-week-old black Labrador retriever.</p>
<p>Here's what I said once I wish I could have taken back. This is unfortunately a true story.</p>
<p>My parents are divorced, have been for over 25 years. Both happily remarried. The daughter of my dad's wife got married around 10 years ago. As a gesture to smooth what had been a pretty rocky family situation, she asked me to be in the wedding. Big deal.</p>
<p>So it's the rehearsal dinner. I am making a toast. I am sort of freaked out. I decide to get intellectual. Big mistake.</p>
<p>For some reason I decided to make a connection between rehearsal dinners and funerals, death of one way of life, birth of a new one...</p>
<p>Oh never mind. It was awful. Imagine everyone looking at me with apalled faces as I propose we all raise our glasses. It was hard for me to drink the champagne though with my foot so far into my mouth.</p>
<p>I have a really excellent talent for forgetting those sorts of horrible moments, erasing them completely. I remember the feeling of horror but not any specifics of what I did. </p>
<p>However, I do recall my H (a bit drunk) using the word "fag" to describe a professional football player whom he felt was being paid too much for mediocre output-- this while we were being served a lovely 3 course dinner by a work/friend and his <em>ahem</em> partner. I wanted to go through the floor. They were completely seamless and did not even blink, but the whole rest of the dinner I felt sick...</p>
<p>As a kid I remember my mother frequently "misspeaking." She was the "Mistress of the Freudian Slip." For example, I must have been 12 or 13 when I noticed that while both parents were college grads. my mother had a BA and my father a BS. I knew what BA stood for but not BS. When I asked she replied, "It's a Ba$tard of Science degree, I mean a Bachelors of Science degree." I thought it was hysterical but my dad didn't :)</p>