Pencils and erasers

We've all used them,

Pencils.

Some of us use them everyday, some of us use them on occasion, some of us haven't held one in our hands since finishing (or dropping out) of high school. After all, pens are much cooler than pencils.

Today I realized something very important, maybe. The makers of those generic yellow pencils with the little pink erasers are jokers. Really they are. They make fine pencils, pencils you could write all day with provided you have a pencil sharpener handy. But ever try to use the other end of it; the little pink nub that's supposed to make your mistakes dissapear? Of course you have; we all have. And surely most of us have regretted it.

Lets face it people, the pink erasers that come attached to the end of wooden pencils are practically useless. I don't say completely only because they do allow you to smudge your writings beyond recognition, which could be considered as erasing. But nobody wants smudges.

My question is why?

Why do pink erasers never work properly?
Why do manufacturers put them on the end of their pencils anyways?
I just thought of this, but why, if the pink erasers are made to erase use with a particular type of pencil or a particular type of paper, is that not clearly indicated on their packaging?

Because most of us will never stop trying out the little pink erasers when a trusty white one isn't available, which happens more often then you'd think, pencil manufacturers are jokers. They might also be the devil, but that's debatable.

Take care.

R.

Lions and Christmas trees

The first of December might not be an official date of any sort, but for many people around the world, it marks the official start of the Holidays. I say official because in Consumerland, which we all live in, the holiday season seems to begin when Halloween ends. On December first, people can finally let loose and do what they've been wanting to do for about two weeks: put up the Christmas tree.

I myself have never had a Christmas tree. It always seems unnecessary as I live alone, don't spend a lot of time at home and usually spend Christmas week at my folks' place. I do love Christmas though and always relish the sight of a decorated house.

This year, things went a little differently and I got to open the holiday season with my girlfriend by putting up her Christmas tree. It had been about six years since I'd last participated in such a ritual and I loved every moment of it.

Saturday night, I watched the tree glow and shine of its many lights and ornaments. I watched it as it glowed. I watched it as it shone. I watched it as it jingled a little. I watched it as it jingled a little more. I stopped watching it and went to remove from under the tree the cat which was causing the jingling.

Christmas time for pet owners is like war. Pets try to play with the giant pet toy which their owners have set up for them and owners look for ways to keep their pets out of their biggest Christmas decoration other than hiring a border guard.

If you have a lion, good luck...

Life's lessons

When nothing bad has happened to you in a while, you start to forget that bad things can happen if you're not careful
I believe that when you reach that point, Life sends you little warnings to remind you that the fan isn't too far away and that nasty stuff can hit it in the time it takes you to say "what the?".

Most of the time I can appreciate Life's teachings.

But when life decides to remind me that I shouldn't drive so fast in icy conditions, I really wish it wouldn't do it by letting me slam into a sidewall and, in the process, putting the health of my girlfriend at risk.

We were lucky last night and I've surely learned my lesson, but Life could've waited for me to be alone in the car.

Because every medium is worth trying, I will plead to Life here.

Hurting me is fair; I'm the one who's being careless. Hurt me as much as you like until I've learned what I need to. But please leave my loved ones alone. They have nothing to do with my irresponsible behaviour.

I truly hope that this accident has saved me from a more tragic one.

Be careful kids, you're not invincible and Life's watching.

Parades and candy

When the lady handed him a handful of Christmas canes, telling him to "pass them along", she most likely didn't realize how weird it would look for a man not participating in the parade to be offering candy to kids.

Advertising

Okay, so I'm not a big fan of advertising, but I accept it as a part of regular life. Unless you walk around with eyes and ears shut, you just can't avoid it. But trying to use me as a means of advertising is unacceptable.

Those of you who visit this page periodically might have read the comment left by señor CresceNet five days ago. You might also have wondered why this person was leaving a comment in Portugese to an English post. And those of you that can read Portugese might also have wondered why someone would respond to that particular post by suggesting that I check out an ISP.

What you might not know is that he left a very similar comment about a month ago, when I was having Internet woes. At that time, although he was clearly advertising, I thought he wanted to help and my mind liked the fact that a total stranger who didn't care if I spoke Portugese or not was willing to lend me a hand.

Now I'm in a better place, and in this place I cannot allow myself to become a billboard.

I feel though that I can' t just delete comments without giving prior warning that I am moderating them.

So here is the warning: You, people of the Web, will be allowed to comment on anything written on this blog. However, and this is important, no advertising will be allowed. (suggestions concerning bands, surfing equipment or lion taming products will not be considered advertisments).

Fun facts about lions # 2

Lions most often roar at night; the sound, which can be heard from a distance of 8 km, is used to advertise the animal's presence.

Lyrics that make you go wow (edited)

He's still accomplishing all of his goals and dreams
He's met a girl who gives him joy like he's never seen
Life's fillin' in with the best of friends, he's happy.

I know it doesn't look like much, but when you hear the whole thing and the singer gets to that part, you just go "Wow". Well, I do anyways.

Quite honestly, sometimes artists just amaze me, not only with their lyrics, but by the way they arrange them.

Cats and toilets

Does your cat drink from the toilet?
Does your cat drink from the toilet and not move when you come into the bathroom?

Do you ever go to the bathroom at night?
Do you ever go to the bathroom at night, feeling groggy and not wearing your glasses, which renders you essentially blind?
Do you ever go to the bathroom at night, feeling groggy and not wearing your glasses, and not bother turning on the lights because you want to stay groggy?

Trust this blogger, if you have a cat that drinks from the toilet and doesn't move when you come into a lit bathroom during the day, don't count on it to move when you come into a dark bathroom at night. Move the cat. Four out of five times, you might be moving air, but know that those times your hands make contact with your furry friend might save you from making contact with it with another part of your body.


Lion taming tip # 23

If your lion takes to drinking from the toilet at night, teach him to lock the door; your guests would not appreciate getting knocked out of their grogginess by coming face to face with a lion.