Mindless fun

Here's a cute little game I found, in case you're really having a boring day at work. If you want the code to put it on your website, go to Home Business Today.

Meanwhile, have fun!!!


The Red Button Game! Thanks to Aaron for keeping it alive!

Cat

¿Quién habla?

Now that I've gotten over my fear of speaking spanish on the phone, it's becoming kind of fun.

I was reading a whole discourse recently on one of the message boards about Mexican phone ettiquette, and how some folks who have moved there perceive people as being impolite. That's because when someone calls your house, or even your business, they don't ask "May I speak with Cathi?", like we do here in the USA. They ask "¿Quién habla?" ("who is speaking?") right off the bat of whoever answers the phone.

The board (bored?) people were discussing how they get offended, refuse to give their name, and have a stupid never-ending conversation when someone calls them.

Bueno.
¿Quién habla?
Yo hablo. ¿Quién habla?
José, ¿con quién habla?
Usted me llamó.
Sí, ¿quién habla?
and on and on.....

in english----> (not a literal translation)
Hello.
Who's this?
It's me. Who is this?
It's José, who is this?
You called me.
Right, who is this?

I mean, what's the point? They aren't going to change society, so if you live in Mexico, why not just go with the flow? I never really thought about it being impolite, I just always accepted that's the way it is. When someone calls, they ask who you are when you pick up the phone. And you answer the question. As the saying goes, when in Rome....

So, when I called Gerardo today, (to find out where my long-lost shipment is, but that's a blog for another day) the first thing I said when they picked up the phone was ¿Quién habla? I felt very Mexican. And anyway, my mom always told me never to begin the conversation that way when I called someone, so I also get to feel a little rebellious and enjoy being able to say that when I call people. (hey, I have to get my kicks wherever I can, right? haha)

Cat

The geek inside me

Maybe I've always had a hidden geek inside and I just didn't know it. Or maybe I just created a geek with all my work on the website lately.

Whichever, while burning the midnight oil many a night getting my website working (which still isn't ready, but almost), I found that I really enjoy working with this computer stuff.

Now this is going to sound really geeky, but I actually find it fun to write some programming code and then go to the website and see the program working. I've discovered myself wondering what the underlying code is as I'm looking at various sites while surfing the internet.

Although I'll never learn to like that hollow, sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach when I change something and then go to my website and see only a blank white page with an error message (the first lesson in programming...backup, backup, BACKUP!), I'd really like to learn more about the magic you can do with a few simple lines of text.

So, I bought a book and I'm studying programming. As if I didn't have enough on my plate already, LOL. Well, if nothing else, it will be a marketable skill if I'm able to get the hang of it.

Cat

Only in Florida

I heard this story on the news this morning....

A Fort Lauderdale man was arrested after going door-to-door posing as a doctor and offering to do breast exams. One woman called police after becoming suspicious that he might not be a real doctor because he was not wearing gloves during the "exam".

Oh, yeah? What was her first clue?

Cat

Wednesday, Wednesday

It's kind of a strange day. I'm excited, getting ready to open the store on Saturday, and busy, doing stuff. I'm also a little overwhelmed, it could be a very long while before I have a day off or vacation again. I'm a bit scared, to take this big step, but I'm anxious to get going, and see what lies ahead.

And I'm also feeling a little bit weepy and sentimental today. Who knows why? It's turning into a grey day outside. I watched a love-story/romance movie on TV this morning about two people who were very much in love and then suddenly drifted (can you "suddenly drift"?) out of each other's lives, neither really knowing the reason why. Of course they found each other, in the end. It reminded me of something, and then that got me to thinking about something else, and, well, now I'm in a strange kind of mood.

Ah, Wednesday. At least grey Wednesdays are good days for thinking, wouldn't you agree?

Cat

Writing pays!

I didn't post for three weeks, and now you get three in one day. It's either all or nothing.

I got an "author's" check in the mail yesterday for my writing on my other blog at Know More Media. For $142.50!

I write about the ups and downs of starting a small business, and other business-related topics. It's fun, I've come to know some nice people, and I get paid! What could be better?

So, now you know why I haven't been posting a lot. Between posting there, getting the business going, and working on my web-design skills (I've become obsessed with it), I've been pretty busy.

Plus, they pay me to write. You don't.

Cat

Dancing Cactus news

I finally received the first shipment of my folkart from Mexico. I can't believe how long the stuff takes to get here! I'm going to have to make a restocking order before I even open the store, at this rate.

Everything was packed perfectly, though. Not one item broke.

And I sold two already! I was showing some of the items to my doctor (of all people!), who has been asking me for months if she can see them. She bought two pieces right on the spot, and said she'll definitely be coming to the shop to buy some more. Hopefully I'll have it open by April 1st.

I haven't even advertised my website yet, and it's getting traffic already. I need to finish getting it set up properly. I have someone coming over this weekend to help me with the final bits that I'm stuck on.

I can't wait for everything to be done so I can get started! The waiting is killing me.

Cat

Dallas. the movie

I might be giving away my age here, but I remember when Dallas was my favorite TV show. I don't even think I had a VCR back then, so I had to stay home glued to the television every Friday night.

I don't know if a movie can do the original justice, but I read that they're making one. John Travolta as JR? It's going to be tough living up to Larry Hagman's portrayal of the slick oil baron.

Cat

Cruel Intentions

Three teenagers (two age 18, one age 17) were arraigned for assault and murder in South Florida this week for cruelly beating three homeless people with baseball bats, so mercilessly that one 45-year-old man was killed. The entire incident was captured on film by a security camera.

After the arraignment, Micheal Gottlieb, the 17-year-old defendant's attorney, had this to say:

"It's gut-wrenching. He's a baby."
"He's being judged for one day in his life. It's really a tragedy for one day and one decision in your life to affect the rest of your life."

Did this attorney grow up in some different world than I did? A 17-year-old is not a baby, especially under these circumstances. He's dangerous. He certainly understands that beating a man to death for sport is wrong, both legally and morally.

And this 17-year-old gave no thought as to how this "one day and one decision" affected the rest of Mr. Norris Gaynor's life. It ended it.

Yes, it is a tragedy. But that tragedy was caused by this teenager, and he should be judged and held responsible for it.

Out of the mouths of babes

Well, they aren't "babes", they're twenty-somethings, but I really can't believe the asinine things that come out of my daughters' mouths sometimes.

Stacy: Serena is giving me a kitten for my birthday.
David: You know your mom is going to be angry when she gets home from Mexico and sees it. She isn't going to let you have it.
Stacy: Why not? She let Tara have a baby.

I guess it would be pointless to try and explain the difference to her....

Cat