Is the Zoo still open?

Helloooooooooooooo, to my beautiful Zodiac Zoo Crew! It has been so long that I bet you forgot that's what you're called, huh? I mean, I see I've lost some followers, and that's my fault. But I'm back and ready to get back in the swing of things.

I must say I have missed you all and your blogs. It's a bit confusing to me how I ended up making LESS time for my blog after I finished school, since I was juggling work, school, and the blog before. I wish I could say it's because I got a snazzy new job with my degree, but that is not the case. All in good time, though. I have high hopes.

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I can't wait to read all about what you have all been doing in my absence. I see it wasn't dusting and cleaning up around this place! Phew! I think there are still remnants of the last Zoo party around here. Ahhh, I miss the Zoo parties. I bet someone has one going on around here now that I'm missing. Eek! 

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Okay, that picture is more than a little disturbing, which is why I had to show it. You all missed me, didn't ya? Admit it! :) 

So, let's see. What do you need to be filled in on since my last post? Actually, not a whole lot of life-changing type information. I've been busy with work and family things, but luckily no more tragedies since the horrible last summer we had. And yes, I am quickly knocking on wood as I type that! 

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I bought myself two of those lucky bamboo thingies after the summer our family had. The real shocker isn't that we've been okay, but that I've managed to keep the plants alive. Need I remind you of the mums? No, I won't post that pitiful picture again. 

Soooooo, I'm back and I'm not going to abandon you all anymore. I realize how much I miss doing this and how big a kick I get out of reading your comments and your blogs. You all make me smile every day, and I need that back in my life. 

Plus, I figured today was a good day to start since it's freaking cold outside so I am definitely not looking for any reason to do anything outside. But mainly it's because I missed you guys... mostly. 

I really want to thank all of my followers who stuck around in my absence. You all are the greatest! It will be worth it, I swear. Now I am off like a prom dress to go check out what my peeps have been up to. 

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Have a great week!

Friday foolishness and 100 followers!

Well, another week down, folks. If you are like most people I know, it was a long one. I want to welcome my new Animals to the Zodiac Zoo Crew. You all helped me get over 100, and I'm so excited about that. Thank you! You are in a pretty awesome group here, and I'm tickled to have you.

For those of you who have been paying attention, I finally got my grades for the term I just finished in school. That slack professor actually gave me a 100 on my final research paper! Apparently, he gets to live to see another day. That's a good thing because I'm not sure they would let me blog from prison. Oh hell! I couldn't live without blogging now. You peeps have me hooked, I tell ya.

From reading his comments, I think it was because I happened to pick a topic that is important to him professionally. So go, Krissy! We all have to pat ourselves on the back every now and then. I get the joy of having him again next term, so if I can manage to finish with my 4.0 GPA still in tact after these last three classes it will be major party time! I cannot wait to graduate.

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We are supposed to be going to the Zoo tomorrow for family day through my company. Unfortunately, there is a 70% chance of rain. Wouldn't that be fun? I would be freaking the hell out about my new camera getting wet. I guess we'll find out what they can do for us if it does get rained out since tickets are already printed and paid for. It would actually work better for me to not go tomorrow since I have old friends coming in from out of town tomorrow night. I could spend tomorrow cleaning instead of tonight. Friday night is supposed to be for cocktails and sitting on my ass reading blogs, dammit! How pitiful is that? One of these years I'll get a life once someone shows me how to do that again. Being with D this weekend is going to remind me of what a life is actually like again, since I'm sure there will be a lot of old memories brought up.

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We used to be party animals. There were three of us who went through divorces around the same time, so we hit the bars pretty much every night after work. What night it was determined where we went. I really don't know how we did it, especially with the little bit of money we were all making back then. But we had a great time wherever we went, believe me. Of course, my ex-husband told everyone I was screwing the whole Air Force base, but who cares what the hell he thought? I wasn't screwing the whole base, by the way. But we had our share of fun with some GI's and they partied with us a lot. In fact, one night we met the Thunderbird pilots at the bar, and when they found out it was my birthday there was a steady stream of drinks sent to me for the rest of the night. I'll admit, I was a little worried about the air show the next day with as much as those boys put down, but they were very considerate of the clock and when it was time to get back to the base.

Ahhhh, the good old days. Man, I feel old! When the hell did that happen? Although, I feel pretty damn young when compared to the 114 year old man who just passed away. Can you freaking imagine? There are not many people still around who were born in the 1800's. Just think of all of the things he has seen in his life.

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Hey, maybe I'll use pictures of the Zoo animals to represent some of you Animals! That would be fun. I can think of a few examples that would fit some of you right off the top of my head. Ohhh, the ideas that are starting to form now. Look out, folks. I'm burning up some brain cells over here.

By the way, there is this new button over to the left that lets you enter your email address if you want this blog sent straight to you when posts are put up. Feel free to use it so you don't miss what's happening around these parts. I know you are dying to keep up with me and my exciting life. At least you know you'll get some cute animal pictures on occasion if nothing else. Hopefully, I can catch up on some of your blogs while I have a little break from school. I love reading what you guys write so much that I hate missing your posts.

Anyway, have a great weekend, everyone! I am homework free this weekend, and rain or shine there will be cocktails in my not too distant future. I'll have one (or 10) to toast you all.

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Happy 100th to The Zodiac Zoo Crew!

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So it's official! You Animals have been stuck with me for 100 blog posts. Well, you might not have been here that long, but there are that many for you to take your happy ass back to read. Aren't you thrilled? I am sitting at 95 followers, so I'm hoping that will jump over 100 soon.

In honor of the 100th post, I think I'm going to give you some links to a few of my favorite posts. Personally, I'm going to take it easy on this Monday and enjoy reading YOUR blogs since I've done so much hard work for 100 posts. What? You don't think that was hard? It's very taxing on my brain, ya know! Even though I try to kill off the weak brain cells when I can... I am so behind in my Reader anyway, that this will give me an excuse to take it easy today because I absolutely love reading everyone's posts.

So here are a few I enjoyed writing, and I think others enjoyed reading...

My Mom stories always seem to be a big hit. My mother is a trip and a half, so feel free to look back on these: Reindeer Games for Mom, Up on the Rooftop.. with Mom, Mom's Adventures on Noah's Ark. I think I have one or two more of those yet to write so stick around.

These were pretty popular posts as far as views go... My Dentist is Hot!, Then and Now, A Jackass tried to ruin the Christmas Parade. 


I think that's enough reading material for you. And look, no animal posts. Well, not really. Hmmmm... When I first started writing you all recommended me because of my animal posts. Is it a good or bad thing I moved away from that?? Something to think about for the next 100!

Thanks for sticking with me and making me feel like what I had to say was pretty good reading, folks. I am truly thankful for each and every one of you who take the time to read my blog since I know there are so many other places in cyberspace you could be right now.

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Come join the shout-out party, and find out your new name!

Now for the moment you have all been waiting for... You will officially be named, my wonderful followers, by the end of this blog post. So I have until then to make up my mind for sure, right? Good, because I am still debating between a couple of things, and I don't know how to handle it.

I figured I would go ahead and pimp out... I mean, give a shout-out to everyone who participated in the contest and/or decided to steal my fancy new button. Since your responses and suggestions were so great, I'm putting them all here for everyone's enjoyment. Feel free to comment and give us all a link to your blog even if I didn't link you up here so you can join in on finding some new blogging friends.

Cinderita from The Adventures of Cinderita: Fellow bullshitters (She was worried that was wrong? Not with this crew!)

Amy from This House Gets Crazy at Three O'Clock: Little Lovelies (She did the wonderful drawings on my site, by the way!)

Vicki from Glitter Frog: Bullettes (get it? like bullets but... shit, never mind, she says)

Abby from Abby Has Issues: We could be "calve-aleers" or "bullies" or something with horny in it...

Alessandra from The Life and Times of A. Nighbert: How about Tauries? You know like the Tories only better... Hey, how about Boveeners?

Oilfield Trash from Make Daddy a Sammich: I would say bullshitters but you don't have a dirty mouth. So how about Ballsy Bulls? (Ha! He doesn't think I have a dirty mouth. Tell that to my momma.)

Amber from Amber LaShell Rants and other blogs: Hmmm, maybe Talkers? Is that stupid? I was thinking Bailey Bugs, you know after your dog..but that might be just cause I was looking at a picture when I thought of it. LOL (I thought they were both cute and NOT stupid, by the way! And she did the new design for my blog.)


Yvonne from Writing my life away!: How about "Talkative Readers"?

J.Day from The Ramblings of Charlie Brown: Oh man! I was gonna say "bullshitters"! LOL Oh well, if we stick with the cow thing... um, your "herd"?

ib from The Habitual Hobbit: Krissy's Kurmudgeon's  - A curmudgeon is defined as one that dislikes humanities absurdities. But, see what I did? I replaced the (C) with a (K) to fit better with Krissy, cause it's fu... ahh, forget it. I'm suck. (You most definitely aren't suck, and I SERIOUSLY considered this.)

The Adorkable Ditz from The Adorkable Ditz' Missteps: Taurites, Cow Pies, ChatterCows, Literate Bulls...

lyndylou from The Giggle Fest: How about My Little Taureans?

Don (who doesn't write a blog but should and gives many of us mad blog love and encouragement): Name your followers "Beautiful Babes and Horny Jerks." LOL (Virtual hugs and kisses being sent your way at your request, Don.)


becca from My Life: I like the name Scoobies, or bullpen.

AbsolutelyPrimed from Over Developed, Under Exposed: Hmmmm... Bull Chasers? Running with the Bull?

The Tame One from Thoughts of an Oxymoron: Taureans! Well, except I'm a Scorp, but still. Either way, I'm your bullshitter baby. ;-) (And I love that you are, girl!)


John from Full-On Forward: Total BSFrom... or BuckOff.. How about Matadorians, or Bullfighters..

Emily from Shut Up and Smile: hmmmmm how about your pitbulls. I know it's a dog.. but I think it sounds cool. (So did I!)


Canadian Blogger Girl: Still sticking with your Zodiacs for the name of ur peeps. (She is in the process of moving, but you'll love her when she comes back if you don't already follow her.)


Kat from Tapetum Lucidum: Well naturally you know that I like Rita's "The Bullshitters." ;-) Members of the Bull Pen? Since a Taurus=Bull, Pen=writing, and it's... I'm overexplaining, aren't I? I'm so sleeeeepyyy... (I thought that explanation made it so much cooler!)


Patty from Patty Punker: Toros!

Now, before I reveal the winner that I have not listed yet, I want you all to know I LOVED all of your suggestions. It was very hard for me to choose, and I honestly needed the extra day to make up my mind on a couple of things. But I won't stall anymore... The winner came from...

Average Girl from It's an Average Life (and other great blogs!): THE ZODIAC ZOO CREW

I absolutely fell in love with that one as soon as I read it! Though it incorporates what CBG suggested with the Zodiacs, I think expanding it to The Zodiac Zoo Crew means I will actually call you my Animals for short. I hope you all like it because you are stuck with it now. I thought you all being Animals was kind of fitting since many people give me praise on their blogs for being such an animal lover, and you all know I love you all to pieces!

So there ya go, my Animals. (AG, let me know what website you want your $25 gift certificate from, and I'll be sending it your way.) Thanks so much for all of the help, everyone! And for those who didn't participate, don't forget to give us your link in the comments so others can find you, too.

Update: Since AG is a woman after my own heart, she has chosen for me to donate the money instead to my local shelter. Because she was so generous to give up her shopping trip so readily for something I hold dear, I've chosen to double it. We just saved some puppies and kittens, people!

'Cuz I'm a tease like that.. But sometimes I just give it away.

Want a taste of what is to come? Check out my new button! I dare ya to display it on your blog. Ain't it purty??? I'll have to come up with a giveaway to go with the launching. Oh, what should it be?

Let's make it a competition. Come up with a name I should call my followers. Whoever comes up with the best one will get a $25 gift card to your favorite website. So send everyone this way! You have to be a follower to enter the giveaway and display my button on your blog. (If you have one.. I don't want to exclude my friends who don't blog but enjoy that I do.)

*Evil laugh going on with my cocktails!* I love making my _________(s) work for me. What are you people? Well, besides awesome for having the good taste to follow me.

To add a little something extra, let me know if you tweet this, blog about it, send this out on Facebook, or whatever, and I'll pimp you out! Just leave a comment letting me know so I can go see it.

Update: Someone who shall remain nameless (yes YOU Vicki, ya froggy woman) told me that my button was ginormous. It's not when you post in on the side. See, look to the right. The right is -------> that way. :)

Friday foolishness

First of all, I wanted to welcome all of my new followers. I've gotten a little kick in my numbers this week, and I am LOVING it. I was kinda in a rut there for a while. I'm sorry some of you get to start out with this post, but what the hell. It's Friday, right? Cocktails will be served shortly, so pull up a chair.

I have never been very creative, at least I don't think I am. Some recent posts by others have made me think of things I enjoyed doing when I was young. Drawing was not one of them. I'm just not good at it. See?

I tried to draw a dog on there, but that was really pathetic. So I gave up. Color is one thing I have always been fascinated with though. I could color my ass off! Or fingers off. I don't know how many boxes of crayons I went through as a child.

Have you ever seen artwork that looks like this and wondered how the hell it is worth money?

For some reason, as a child, I started making my own creations like this. I don't know if I ran out of coloring books, or if some teacher showed me, or if it was just something some friends and I came up with. But for some reason it came to mind last night. Have any of you ever done this? You just take a piece of paper and a marker and let your hand go crazy on it. Then you color in the spaces. It really looks something like this.

Am I bizarre or just really more creative than I thought I was? Okay, I know I'm bizarre, but I mean about this particular past-time.

My mother called when I was in the middle of this creation last night. As usual the conversation started off with, "Hey, what are you doing?" Ummm, did I really want to tell her I was coloring? I thought for a second about making something up, but then I figured. Okay, why would I waste a lie to my mother over not wanting to admit I was coloring? So I told her. Of course, she laughed at me and somewhere in the conversation she ended up asking, "So are you trying to tell me you want coloring books for your birthday?" Uh, no! And between me and you, I have two coloring books. Yes, I'm that mature!

I told her about this little habit I did when I was young, and she doesn't remember it. Apparently, I was a closet creative artist. Maybe I just got bored with coloring in Mickey Mouse and all the Disney characters over the years.  Who knows? Regardless, I spent 3 hours last night on this masterpiece for you all while I was catching up on some things on my DVR. That's 3 hours I'll never get back, right? Yeah, Mom didn't really understand why I was doing it either.

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Oh, well. Happy Friday, everyone! I get the joy of cleaning house tonight because my family is coming to visit tomorrow to take the old washer and dryer to other family members who need them. So I'm making quesadillas for them. Which means my house has to not just be clean, but "mom clean." Just how I wanted to spend my Friday night! And yes, I know it's my fault for waiting until the last minute, but that's how I roll.

Kick start the week with a guest post.. from Mynx!

Good morning, blogging friends! I am slow starting this Monday morning, so I'm going to give you the next installment of my "Funny Stories about our Parents" theme that I've asked others to guest post about.

But first, welcome to all my new followers!! I am so excited to see you all this morning! Big kisses and hugs all around, unless that would scare you off because you are the type who needs your personal space. In that case, I'll just smile and wave. I'll get my mind working shortly to give you all a Talkative Taurus original.

I also wanted to let you all know I'm on Twitter now, so go follow me and then come back real quick. My username on there is talktaurus since some douche has the talkativetaurus name I wanted. Or you can let me know what yours is and I'll go stalk follow you.

So on to the guest post. Mynx over at Dribble was kind enough to send me something about her Mom. She has been a huge supporter of mine since I started blogging, and she actually let me post on her blog as well. That was my first guest blog, and everyone seemed to think it was pretty funny. If you didn't see it, go over there and check it out. I'm sure you'll want to go follow her anyway, because she rocks! Enough of my rambling.... Here's Mynx!

Now everybody knows about Dad jokes.  The really bad ones, like when you drive past a cemetery and Dad would say "look, the dead centre of town"  pause for effect, then laugh at his own cleverness.  Funny the first and maybe the second time, but after that a little cringe worthy.

My Dad didn't do a lot of "dad jokes" thankfully, but my mum had a joke she would roll out at pretty much every function and get together.  She would say it was the only joke she could remember. 

So time for me to share it with you.  Possible you may already know it, but too bad.

Two statues, a boy and a girl, had stood, gazing at each other, in a city park for 100 years.

One day an Angel came down from Heaven and said to them "For 100 years you have stood here, in all weather, and I have been instructed to bring you to life for one hour only, so you may do what you want together."

With that there was a flash of light, the statues came to life, and jumping down off the plinths, grabbed each other's hand and ran giggling into the bushes.

There was much rustling and laughing, groaning and more giggling and half an hour later they came out of the bushes, cheeks flushed and looking very pleased with themselves.

The Angel smiled and said to them "Back already? You still have 30 minutes left."

The boy statue looked at the girl statue and as she grinned at him, he grabbed her hand and they ran back into the bushes.

More rustling and giggling came from the bushes, and the Angel, unable to resist her curiosity, quietly crept over to have a little peek.

Peering in to the bushes she heard the girl statue say to the boy statue.

"Okay, now it is my turn to hold down the pigeon, and your turn to poop on it"

Yes I know it is silly, but I still love it.  

Thank you so much for letting me be a part of your blog.  I was so honoured to be asked.


Mynx

Monday morning madness... First edition

I think Monday mornings are going to be my day to bitch and talk about things that irritate me, since I don't like mornings or Mondays anyway. So that's a good place to start, right? I'm a genius! Hmmm, now I guess I need to come up with a logo or picture that just stands for these posts. Any ideas? For now, we'll go with this.

Things that irritate me.
1. Thinking that it can't be too cold outside in the morning because there is no frost on your car, only to discover that's just because the wind is blowing so hard that it never had a chance to settle there.

2. That aforementioned wind actually froze your windows shut. Makes it a little difficult to roll the windows down to punch in at the gate at work.

3. That I didn't get to work early enough to make myself some tea before heading over to give the guys their hearing tests so I had to settle on ice water. And did I mention it's freakin' cold outside??

4. I think that deserves its own number. It's freakin' cold outside!! They must have said 100 times on the TV this morning that it's going to "feel like" it's in the 20's all day. It's not supposed to be that cold here, dammit! Normally they say we get about 10 days below freezing each of the 3 months of December, January, and February in South Carolina. We are going to be more than halfway to the total of 30 days we normally get any day now. Sheesh!

5. It's freakin' cold and we don't even get to play in the snow. At least if it had to be this cold, could we get some damn snow?! See all of you people who are from where it snows have to worry about going to work in it and shoveling it. Ha! Here everything closes down and it never stays long enough to need shoveling.

6. Somehow I only have one more weekend to get Christmas shopping done. I did some online shopping yesterday, but some stuff I'm just going to have to go out to buy. Good thing I did all of that shopping on Black Friday, even though all I wanted to do was sleep that day.

7. We have an outside (environmental) auditor coming in Thursday and Friday, so I have a ton of work to get done before then. That would be fine if it didn't take me until Tuesday for my brain to wake up.

8. I seem to be stuck at the number of followers I currently have. It's like there is a speed bump in the road I just can't seem to get over recently. I guess I'm going to have to break out the new award I made and give it to someone soon so I can get some shout outs. Oh, well lookie there! Mynx already posted my guest blog on her link so go check that out here. Welcome, anyone who popped in from there! Sorry I had a depressing post up until now. That's not usually the norm around here.

Holy crap.. and TGIF!

I have a good "holy crap" and a bad "holy crap." First the good one. Jumble Mash was kind enough to follow me today. Yay! That's my first follower who isn't a friend or family member, so I am psyched! Please check her out. I'm sure she'll be overwhelmed by the masses that will come from my blog at this point.

Maybe this means others will follow me now. Geez, I hope so. I feel like I'm talking to myself here, people. And yes, I do that all of the time anyway. But now Jumble Mash is my new BFF. No, wait! Don't leave. I'm just saying... I'm tickled you are here is all.

Now for the bad one. I went to George's Truck Stop near the plant to get lunch today. I've gotten lunch there before, and the food is pretty good if you like southern fried cholesterol in a styrofoam box. Sometimes we need those carbs and fat grams though, am I right? Well, today I wanted to order something different so I asked for their chicken sandwich. I get back to the office, bite into it, and am stopped suddenly.

Do you see that ginormous bone? Yes, what you are seeing is a regular chicken wing and leg slapped onto a piece of bread. I'm sorry I ordered a what now? A chicken sandwich! I don't know about you, but my sandwiches don't generally have bones in them. I realize I am not used to every southern custom even though I've lived here most of my life, but how the hell do you each a sandwich like that? I know this isn't Chick-Fil-A, but work with me people.

On another note, I am glad it's Friday! I am tired and need to sleep at least until the sun comes up, for God's sake. I was just about to get my hopes up thinking I didn't have anything to do this weekend when it hit me I have to go to my great-niece's birthday party tomorrow. They live about 45 minutes from me. Well, Saturday is shot, but I'll be glad to see the kids and the rest of the family anyway.