The Impotence of Proofreading

This is too funny:

Invitation (aka Olympic Torch) Virus Hoax

I received an email about a computer virus called the Invitation. The warning is as follows.

You should be alert during the next days: Do not open any message with an attached file called "Invitation" regardless of who sent it. It is a virus that opens an Olympic Torch which "burns" the whole hard disc C of your computer. This virus will be received from someone who has your e-mail address in his/her contact list, that is why you should send this e-mail to all your contacts. It is better to receive this message 25 times than to receive the virus and open it.

If you receive a mail called "invitation", though sent by a friend, do not open it and shut down your computer immediately.

This is the worst virus announced by CNN, it has been classified by Microsoft as the most destructive virus ever. This virus was discovered by McAfee yesterday, and there is no repair yet for this kind of virus. This virus simply destroys the Zero Sector of the Hard Disc, where the vital information is kept.

There is no such virus. If you receive an email like this ignore it.

This urban legend has been circulating since 2000 and seems to reappear just in time for the olympics. It is a hoax.

Google it and you will see that it is in fact a sick joke created by someone with nothing else better to do with their time then to cause undo stress among the masses.

ViewDo.com

I have discovered a new website called viewdo.com.

It is similiar to YouTube in that it shows short videos. The difference is that viewdo.com shows how-to videos.

You can learn how to tie a windsor knot, fold a napkin, wrap a gift, play a piece on the piano, check your tire pressure or juggle three balls.

Now we can learn how to do all those things we've only dreamed of.

I wonder if there's a video on how to pop gum. When I was a teenager I always wished I could do that. My mother and one of my sisters could do it, but alas I never learned how.

What about whistling with two fingers in your mouth? Not very lady like but I was always impressed by people who had this ability. A real attention grabber.

I'm getting a new video camera for my birthday. I might just have to make a how-to video of my own. I have a few talents up my sleeve I could share. :o)

Editing Your Editor

What if we edited our denial letters and sent them back? I'm kidding of course, but haven't you felt like it sometimes?

Thank you for your kind consideration in replying but...

I didn't send you a synopsis...I sent you a query letter.

The manuscript you describe in your letter--is not my manuscript. (So you know that whoever wrote that book is getting the same messed up letter. Poor guy.)

Thank you for letting me know that you are not publishing romance right now even though I sent you a query letter for a juvenile fiction.

I realize they are busy, but dagnabit, so are we.

Many of us are juggling a career, young children, critique groups (to improve our craft), writing conferences, our kid's sports and extra curricular activities, church AND writing.

If we send them an inferior letter or manuscript they are insulted by our lack of care and yet, I'd say, at least half of the denial letters I receive are with errors.

*sigh*

Okay, I feel better now. Sorry for the rant.:o)

Tagged I'm It

Whew!

I had computer trouble and couldn't get on for a couple of days. Then I was busy and didn't have time to fix the problem.

Well first line of business, I got on MySpace this morning and had several nice folks wanting to be my friend, which is great but it made my total come to 666. Now that may not bother some of y'all but here in the buckle of the bible belt that's bad Karma. So I've gotta find at least one more friend to straighten out this little problem.

Pegram has tagged me and I must tell y'all eight interesting things about myself that you do not already know.

Hmm. That will be tricky since I talk a lot and you probably already know quite a few things about me, but here goes.

1) I'm the oldest of seven kids, eleven if you count my daddy's kids and no we are not catholic, just fertile.

2) In the nineties I owned a cleaning business called Persnickety Cleaning Service.

3) I have a terrible habit of picking at my cuticles.

4) I have OCD.

5) My favorite color is red.

6) I was born the year of the ox.

7) I don't like sports.

8) I hardly have any gray hair. It runs in my family. My grand father was in his seventies when he passed away and hardly had any.

Sorry, I know those weren't terribly interesting tidbits, but it was all I could come up with.

And now I must go and tag eight other unsuspecting folks. :o)

Husband tried to cut his leg off

Well not really but it seemed like it at the time.

The other evening about 10:30 at night my husband decides to go out to the garage aka take your life into your own hands room. He steps across a large tub doubling as a table holding cut pieces of tile.

Yeah, you guessed it. He jabs himself in the underside of his knee. I'm not in the medical profession so I don't know what the technical term for it is.

He comes dripping blood all through the house to our master bathroom at the farthest back part of the house.

Now if you've read my earlier blogs you know that I don't do blood. It's in my marriage vows.

He does blood and I do poop and puke.

So I'm getting woozy, my life is passing before my eyes and I see stars.

I was perfectly sober before this all happened.

He asks me to get the first aid kit. I stagger down the hall to the medicine cabinet and get the small plastic tub that holds our bandages and ointment.

I never use the stuff, I just make sure it's well stocked for people like my husband who like to hurt themselves.

My hands are shaking. I can't concentrate. He's giving me instructions from the bathroom. I hand him his tape and gauze like a drunk nurse while he tapes himself up.

I didn't take a picture of the gaping hole because well, frankly, I'm getting nauteous just describing it to you.

He should have had stitches but being the tough guy aka tight wad that he is we (he) taped it up at home.

Zimmers

I have a new favorite rock group! They're called the Zimmers and they really rock! Well mostly in rocking chairs but watch this video.


Three of them were on the Tonight Show last night and they were really funny.

I want to be like that when I'm 120 years old.

Yeah, that's right. I plan to live to be 120 years old. Why not? These folks are in their 90's and still rockin' so I figure since people live longer every generation, by the time I'm their age my generation will be living to be in the hundreds.

It's possible. :o)

Camp

My daughter is at camp this week. I miss her already.

The quiet is deafening.

The phone doesn't ring every few minutes. Her friends either know she's not here or they're at camp with her.

I don't have anyone asking me for money.

No one asking for rides to friend's homes, the mall, skating rink or the pool.

For such a small person she eats quite a bit so I cook half as much when she's gone.

Hmm. With all those pros you'd think I'd be happy.

But I'd rather have my phone hogging, non-stop eating, money begging teenager back at home. :o)

A Lovely Scone Recipe

I thought I'd share my favorite scone recipe with you.

For those who might not know what a scone is, it's like a biscuit only they usually have some kind of fruit or other added ingredient.

Raisin Oatmeal Scones

1 and 1/2 Cups of flour

1 Cup oats, uncooked

1/4 Cup sugar

1 Tablespoon baking powder

1/2 Teaspoon salt

1/2 Cup or 1 stick of margarine melted

1/3 Cup milk

1/3 Cup raisins (I add extra because I'm a raisin nut)

Combine all of the dry ingredients, which is the first five on the list, in a large bowl.

Add the rest of the ingredients with a spoon just until the dry ingredients are moistened.

Lightly flour your counter top or cutting board. Place dough on cutting board and knead about 15 times. Flatten dough.

Roll dough with a rolling pin into an eight inch circle. If you don't have a rolling pin you can flatten and shape with your hands.

Cut into triangle wedges using a pizza cutter or knife.

Place wedges on an ungreased cookie sheet, leaving about a half inch or more in between them for even heating.

Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for about 10 to 15 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Keep an eye on them as ovens vary.

Makes about 12 scones.

Delicious!! :o)

This is a cute old song. They've disabled the embed code so you'll have to go to YouTube to see it. Enjoy.

Kinks- Have A Cuppa Tea