Fun Monday Quotables

The beautiful Robin at Penseive is this week's hostess for Fun Monday - and if you've never checked her "history of Fun Monday" section, do it today! Robin wanted us to share our favorite quotes.

One that I have been working to assimilate into my life is, "It is better to be kind than right." Tough, for a Virgo like me - one who is critical and intently self-critical. I tried to find the origin of this quote, and the best I can come up with is Ernie Harwell, whose granddaughter sells the quotation as a printed wall hanging.

Another quote I try to embody in my daily life is Rotary International's "Four Way Test," and though it's not really a quote, per se, it is a motto worth striving for.

It is the "Four Way Test of the things we think, say or do..."

Is it the TRUTH?
Is it FAIR to all CONCERNED?
Will it build GOOD WILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

I try so hard to ask myself these questions before opening my mouth. It is more difficult than you would imagine.

Now, go check out some more fabulous and inspirational quotes from this week's participants!

Still Finishing a Meme

You know you're a bad blogger when you take over THREE MONTHS to finish ONE MEME. The Lovely Karina tagged me a long time ago to repost five previous posts, and how many do I have done? Even I lost count. Plus, I still haven't commented on all the Fun Monday participants. Am I still allowed to call myself a blogger?

But I'm catching up, and maybe Karina will forgive me. I know some of you may have seen this, but as I have friends on their second tour of Iraq, I felt this was appropriate as a "repost." Originally from December of 2006, here is a "Shout Out to VAW-116."

My inbox is riddled with "forwards," and I often receive the same thing twice within an hour. Every now and again, I get a gem. This is another one from Spence, and it made me smile.

Have you ever REALLY imagined living on an aircraft carrier during a time of war? These guys make it seem easy:

Too funny! I have a friend named Seth in the National Guard, who is back in Iraq for his second tour (PLEASE do not click the link to his name, unless you are not offended by graphic nudity and disgusting things that young men these days think are funny!!! His site is NOT for the weak and/or strongly religious!). The guy in the middle of the video, rapping as others enter the hallway, reminded me of him. Here is another, for your enjoyment:


Truly Americans - wouldn't you say?
Also, check out the profile comments from fellow soldiers on YouTube. They say it all.

Fun Monday *UPDATED FOR MY PEEPS!*

Well, The Lovely Swampy is this week's hostess for Fun Monday! She had a GREAT topic, but when I found out she was hosting? There was NO WAY I was playing by the rules! She almost always participates in Fun Monday, but almost NEVER plays by the rules. Still, she is one of my most-favorite bloggers, so in honor of her, I'm shucking the rules, and bring you the holiday tradition of "Peep Torture:"
Also, if you are VERY brave, check out this video instead....but be warned, it is NOT safe for kids! Just look behind the reporter...
Now go see how many rule-abiding participants are out there this Fun Monday!

Watching Idol

I know, I've been a bad blogger. Negligent. But as a bonus, you will finally get to see the "Peep Tradition" video sometime in the next 7 days. Dismembering Peeps...remember that? Oh, just wait until you hear them scream.

Until then, let's discuss another topic - American Idol. Do you watch? Do you like? Do you care? Being a musician myself, and having a musical family - I am drawn to this show like a light-blinded moth. I've not embraced any of the contestants as fervently as I did Taylor Hicks. I'm still waiting for another one to be "special" and "non-commercial."

During the past two weeks, the contestants have been trying songs by The Beatles. Oh. My. Gawd. You can either do it well, or totally suck at it, I've witnessed. There is no in between.

None of the contestants thrill me, though I tend to pull for the underdogs. Chikezie is on that list, and shocked the heck out of me this week by doing a bluegrass take on a Beatles song, that somehow worked for me. David Cook is another good singer - even better than Daughtry, though not as visually appealing. Now, it remains to be seen if the teeny-bopper David Archuleta can be stopped. No underdog, he. Luckily, there are three contestants that I have slated to "disappear" in the upcoming weeks, if I were judging.

So, who do you like? Dislike?

Fun Monday Words and Beer

Nikki came up with a GREAT topic for this Fun Monday! She wanted to know of a "family word" that we had invented and used...or a great green beer story in honor of St. Paddy's day.

As you might suspect from my recent absence from the blogosphere, Tiggerlane has been terribly busy and has writer's block. Not from lack of anything to say, but from sheer exhaustion. And beer. HA!

I DID think of a word, though - and it was coined by a dear family friend. "Gonosyphaherpalese" is a word we use...can you guess what for? Teehee! Not that anyone in my family has an STD, but it's a cute term that our friend used to describe someone he knew who knew a friend...well, you get the gist. So, anytime The Offspring wants to discuss sexual matters, we have to throw in the possibility of contracting "gonospyhaherpalese" as a risk factor - which seems to cover all the bases!

And the green beer story? Kinda sad, actually. Had a friend, who just last year, came over to have a green beer for the holiday. Said friend was not supposed to be drinking, due to some legal issues, unbeknownst to me. Another friend took his photo with me and our green beers, and guess where it ended up? Myspace. Nothing bad for me, but for him? Not so good. All is well now, but remember: it is the age of technology - be careful! Assume every photo of you will be distributed on the 'net!

Thank goodness the technology was not as advanced when I went to college! Now go visit all the other participants this fine Fun Monday!

Fun Monday Movie Quotations

You're almost ALWAYS guaranteed a post from me on Fun Monday - and this week's host is a relative newbie to our group, The IT Guy. New participants in this weekly tradition always bring new life to the game, and this week was no exception. He wanted five memorable lines from five different movies, tell who spoke them, and how we could have used them in our own lives. My all-time favorite movies? Easy - and the lines? Not so. But here goes!

From "Six Degrees of Separation," I love the line spoken by Ouisa Kittredge's character: "I am a collage of unaccounted for brush strokes. I am all random." I could have spoken this line to the many people I encountered during my last 3 years of college. It would have explained a lot and kept feelings from being bruised.

From "Gone With the Wind," the famous line of Scarlett's: "I can't think about that right now. If I do, I'll go crazy. I'll think about that tomorrow." I tell myself this all the time - does that make me a procrastinator? Actually - I need to hear it more often, since it rarely works.

From "Parenthood," the wise (but daft at times) Grandma uttered these words of wisdom: "I always wanted to go again. You know, it was just so interesting to me that a ride could make me so frightened, so scared, so sick, so excited, and so thrilled all together! Some didn't like it. They went on the merry-go-round. That just goes around. Nothing. I like the roller coaster. You get more out of it." I need to repeat this to my husband, whenever he is frustrating by watching me juggle the full plates of my life.

And I couldn't pick just one line from "American Beauty." They both come from the ulikely character of Angela Hayes, played by Mena Suvari: "Everything that's meant to happen, does," and "I don't think that there's anything worse than being ordinary." Oddly enough, I would choose those quotes for The Offspring.

From "Titanic," as Rose spoke: "What? Do you think a first class girl can't drink?" I think I need to reserve this line for future use, don't you?

Now, go check out all the other participants lurking at the IT Guy's place!

Amazing "Prank" - In Case You Missed It

I promise, I truly will get back to my regular blog duties. There are three memes to finish, an award to acknowledge, and more Fun Mondayers to visit. However, I had to share this video of a "prank" at New York's Grand Central Station. Absolutely unbelievable - I wonder how you would react, had this happened at a busy place near you?

It involved over 200 people - and is part of "Improv Everywhere." LOVE the guy who spilled his papers right before the clock started!

Fun Monday Stardom

It's time for another Fun Monday assignment, and this week's hostess is Janet, from the Planet of Janet. She was curious about the movie trailer for our life story, and who we might choose to play in our feature film about our lives.

Given the recent discovery of my heritage, who better to play me than Penelope Cruz? However endearing her accent, she'd have to drop if for a CaliforniTexArkansan style - just to prove her acting chops. Of course, given the nature of my beginnings in this world as an abandoned baby, the movie would have to start off dark, and brooding, with the feeble cries of an infant echoing in a filthy gas station restroom. Destined for Hollywood GREATNESS! Of course, it would progress on to show my mistreatment in foster care, and resolve somewhat in the youth years as my adoptive parents molded me into a child prodigy. I think I would skip most of this stuff, since I lived thru a lot of this phase with buck-teeth.

Then the blur of college - which would basically show the true "formative" years of Tiggerlane. The time in my life when my eyes were opened, and I discovered more about myself than I thought possible.

Of course, a recurring theme of me struggling with my pursuit of perfection and my constant need to reach that "next" level of success must be included. After all, that is key to character development.

The birth of my only-known relative would be a plot crescendo, and then in later years? I would hope to be portrayed as such:A woman who is passionately committed to making the world a better place, without the passle of adopted kids, however.

Now go visit all the other participants lurking around Janet's Planet!