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What? My graphics disappeared when the system automatically updated. No graphics for this entry. Yikes! Stop reading right now if you want.

Can I be interesting without smiley guys? No, I don't think so either.

When the graphics magically reappear with the help of sweet Mr. Guppy Girl you see smiley guys saying "show me 'da money" and a smiley guy tossing around money. Why? Check back and find out. Hint: Uncle Sam is greedy this year.

Tonight I am going to a Fuel event. Fuel is a Chamber of Commerce sponsored event for young professionals. The happy hours are open to us old timers. It is at the Elks from 5 to 7 tonight. I think I might hobble in with my cane wearing a housecoat and pink sponge curlers just to freak out the young trendy up and comers.

As in incoming officer of the Elks (la-de-da) I have been asked to attend. Plus, I am a Chamber member as well. Should be interesting. Do think the bartenders know how to make an Ensure cocktail with a prune chaser?

Check back tomorrow for details :- )

Games

Some kids grew up with "family game night" They played Monopoly, Scrabble, and even as adults can't wait to play games! No board games in my childhood. We learned how to cheat at

That might explain why the only games I play are Yahtzee, Uno, and occasionally Apples and Oranges. What? Those are games for children?

This weekend we played Uno with friends. Even though the husband is a strict rule-follower Uno player "YOU DIDN'T CALL UNO IN TIME" we laughed a lot and had a great time. The women lost track of whose turn it was when they told fascinating stories but the men gently reminded us when it was our turn to play.

The next day we played Yahtzee with some other friends. I am not a traditional player. I toss all the dice back in and start over for a change of pace.

My lackadaisical attitude about some games could be attributed to the fact I am terrible at math. I was rotten at Arithmetic. I still say take-a-way and gozinta...4 take away two is two. 5 gozinta 20 about 4 times. Heck, at times I even use a calculator to add up my score!

My husband likes games, is good at games and turned into a Suduko-holic. I help him with Suduko by calling about random numbers when he is working on them. Usually he says "thank you Dear" as long as I don't overdo it.

So to all you enthusiastic games players:
Bless your little keep on playing and don't invite me to join you

Marathon Observations

Dedicated, crazy, determined -- all these adjectives could apply to the folks who paid $25 to run outside on Valentine's Day.

Over 300 people ran either the entire marathon (26.something) the half-marathon (13.2?) or the 5K which is slightly over 3 miles. On purpose, just for fun.

Kudos to them for raising a lot of $$ to benefit breast cancer research.

No, I didn't run... I did smile a lot, clap when they left to start the race and cheered when they came back in. There was a polite 10 year old boy that ran the half-marathon and claimed he wasn't coerced into running.

Seeing this kind of dedication has inspired me to set a goal to WALK the 5K at the MedCity Marathon on May 30th. Who wants to join me?

Guppy Girl style training starts next week!

The other night I watched "The Biggest Loser" Normally I watch it for inspiration, to YELL at the nasty participants and remain grateful that my trainer, Kirk is nothing like Bob or Jillian.

This week's episode showed the teams training at the Olympic camp. Very cool, quite an honor. When they interviewed the nutritionist and showed the cafeteria I wondered what happens if the Olympic contestants want junk food? Do they stash ho-ho's, twinkies and snicker bars in their underwear or sneakers and tuck them in the corner of their suitcase?

Is there a secret hot dog stand tucked away in an alley in Vancouver?

Hopefully, the behind the scenes Olympic stories will address this burning issue.

Panic

Why do people panic and cancel schools and events every time it snows? It's MINNESOTA for goodness sakes!

Let's start acting like hardy Minnesotan's and not fall to pieces every time it snows.

Substitutes

In the "old days" little kids used to smile and wave back when you waved at them at church. They didn't scowl and bury their heads in their parents neck.

Last week I was at the post office and a cute little girl was with an adult. I smiled at her and said "your braids are very pretty" She grabbed the adults leg and shouted "STRANGER DANGER" The mother looked at me like I was some kind of weirdo. C'mon, I was just being friendly!

Maybe that's why so many people have substitute families. Either their own families are dysfunctional, they live far away or maybe they would rather live by the motto "Friends are our chosen family"

My parents and grandparents are in the big bingo parlor in the sky so I have wonderful stand-ins. I have "sisters in the heart", a caring and funny Minnesota daughter and adorable let me hug you and buy you doll clothes granddaughters.

So, if this never-ending winter has you singing the blues maybe the ticket to happiness is finding a substitute family member to brighten your day!

Dress Up

Remember when you were little and used to play "dress up?" (I am talking to females now) It was so fun to put on sparkly gowns, toss a feather boa around your neck and put on shiny jewelry.

Last Saturday night my friend Gina and I attended the Rochester Radio Theater Farewell Gala event. You can't see it in the picture but Gina wore sparkly tights which added to her smashing dress. You also can't see that I wore black, comfortable sneakers with my gown. My Dad always said "you can't be happy if your feet hurt" and my feet were happy all night.

My Dad, Vic Karn, was a commercial artist. After working for a company for many years he opened his own shop in our house. Every morning he would top off his clothing with a shirt and tie and head down to the basement shop at 6:00 a.m. I asked him why he dressed up when he worked in the basement and he said what he wore made him feel more professional. Plus, if he had to zip uptown (In Albert Lea, MN you always went uptown) he looked nice.

Sure, many of his ties were paint spattered but it merely added to his character.

Lots of places have dress-down Fridays where employees wear jeans. I think every few months they should have dress up days instead. Or tacky day! However, then you run the risk of wearing your usual clothing and your coworkers will secretly mock you.

Next month Community Education is sponsoring a Tacky Town Tour trip. You are encouraged to dress in tacky attire - whoo-hoo! and you will tour tacky sites in the Twin Cities. I've already begun to put together a tacky outfit and have only looked in my closet.

Why don't you dress up sometime this weekend? Dig out your old glow-in-the-dark holiday sweater and slip it on before you go grocery shopping. You will feel glamorous and the odd looks you get from strangers just means they are wishing they had the chutzpah to pull it off.