I just spent several days trying to download a higher quality version of Dvorak’s nine symphonies. Instead, I got ALL of Britney Spears’ albums. Much to my amazement, someone had actually renamed all the songs to be Dvorak songs and so I listened to the first song. It took about one second to realize that this was not Dvorak’s work. File sharing is such a pain sometimes. I hate the internet!

Popularity: 4% [?]

Oh my goodness. Apparently, if I take a cruise to Puerto Rico there is a flea market near the port where they sell 50 orchids of your choice for $80… That is certainly something to think about for next year…

Popularity: 4% [?]

I am now home from the awards banquet. The small talk was plentiful as we had an hour for dinner before they even started giving out awards. Luckily, the mayor is a major extrovert; he spoke, and told jokes the whole time so no one else had to do much talking. The council members were extremely extroverted as well so they handled all the small talk. I only really held a conversation with one of the council member’s wives who was very quiet and was not trying to scream across the table or keep shaking my hand. I shook 47 people’s hands. They must all need votes… I then had to wash my hands many times to get people germs off.

The only bad extroverted issue was when I first sat down at the table and a woman whom I have never met comes up to me and says, “I have seen you before! I know your parents and your last name is Johnson, right?” I replied saying, “Yes it is.” Then she says, “Your first name escapes me.” Instead of asking my name, she practically fondles my breast for my nametag. She takes more time than I would have liked and finds it (like it was somehow difficult to find in the first place) and says my name. She could have just asked! The whole time I am mortified that someone I do not know has just touched me that I am not even able to muster any words. I sat in shock for a while that this woman practically fondled me in front of a room full of people. Apparently, it was quite a spectacle because several people were staring while this happened. I learned a lesson because of this. One should always wear their nametag FAR above the breast rather than on top of it.

On the brighter, less touchy feely side, my garden club won two awards for its service to the city. My grandmother also won an award for her continued service to the city and she was honored again by being mentioned as the city’s only Lifetime Member. They actually created the Lifetime Member status just for her which is a nice thing given her commitment to the city.

Popularity: 6% [?]

That experience was annoying to say the least. I had to go this morning to help with flower arranging for the awards banquet that is tonight. I arrive only to find that people who said they could not make it had actually decided to come. This normally is a fine thing to end up with more volunteers; however, none of them had experience in flower arranging. Certainly, I think having an interest in flower arranging is a very good thing but you do not wait to try your hand in it when you are only eight hours away from an awards banquet. Many different classes have been taught in flower arranging but they do not go to them. Then they used too much plant material and a ton of it goes to waste, which leaves nothing for a majority of the arrangements. Then the people that were supposed to be setting up for the party decided to take a long break so we ended up having to set up the tables, put down the centerpieces, and put out all of the arrangements. This is what you get when you have to depend on government workers to set up a banquet…

The best part was being harassed for being so quiet. Yes, I am quiet. No, I do not feel like making small talk with you. I came to arrange flowers, not chitchat. They all kept talking to me to get me to become a chatterbox. What would we talk about, string theory? Or maybe philosophy? Or perhaps we could talk about Jung or Sartre? Sure, sure. I will certainly be posting on the extroverted atrocities I spot this evening at the banquet, as it should be quite horrific to partake in.

Popularity: 6% [?]

I just finished repotting some orchids. Fun times. Anyway, I came across this website written by an INTJ who did a “day in the life of an INTJ” type of thing and I thought it was hilarious but certainly could be true. Click here to read the page.

Popularity: 6% [?]

I am working on various sections of the website. Almost all of the parts of the philosophy section are up. The papers section will be next after that. The commenting system is being implemented too.

Popularity: 4% [?]

Everyone should listen to the debate between Pastor Eric Lounsbery and Ex-Pastor Dan Barker on the topic of Does God Exist? It is about 90 minutes long. Everyone should go to the Infidel Guy’s website to download it. The Infidel Guy is from Atlanta, by the way. Dan Barker wrote a book a few years ago called, “Losing Faith in Faith.”

Popularity: 6% [?]

To see Dale Chihuly’s work go to chihuly.com.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Dale Chihuly is coming to Atlanta! I cannot wait!

Popularity: 3% [?]

I went to see my grandmother at the retirement home today. We had lunch together and I helped her move her plants around and prune her rose bushes. This lady sat down next to us at lunch and she kept reaching for the middle of the table. I thought she was trying to reach for the crackers so I put them near her and asked her if she needed anything else. She asked me to pass the nuts. No nuts were on the table… I informed her of this. She then got angry with the waiters. It was rather humorous but quite sad at the same time. She talked the entire time that we were at the table eating. She told me all about her family and her deceased husband. She had quite a lot to say. I have noticed that a lot of these people want someone to talk to but no one will listen to them. Is our culture so youth centered that we feel that we can ignore senior citizens simply because they are old and will die sooner than we will? Many older people are quite interesting and colorful. It is unfortunate that the children and grandchildren of senior citizens often forget about them as a part of their daily life. I have often spoken of the importance of progress and moving into the future but at what point during our history did the elderly become irrelevant and ignored?

It is a beautiful day outside today. The temperature has finally hit 75F/24C.

I am still working on the new layout for the site. The content will be uploaded over the next few days… I will also be implementing grey matter and adding in all of the archives from blogger.

Popularity: 5% [?]

I will try to work on the website this evening. It appears to be number 26 on my To-Do list for the day. I will get around to it… On a more exciting note (for me), my other humidity trays have arrived. I have already set them up and all the orchids are doing well. Now, I am off to accomplish number 7 and beyond on the To-Do list.

Addendum: After accomplishing number 7 on my To-Do list, which was to go through the flower books my grandmother sent me, I have come across two interesting titles “Beef” and “Flowers and Symbols for the Christian Year: New Trends in Decorations for Church, Home, and Flower Show.” I guess I should cook a beef dinner before I go off to church. She tells everyone that I am a Methodist anyway. They are going to hell because they are not Baptists and do not believe in her God. Apparently, I am exempt from hell because I know her. Go figure. All you have to do to stay out of the Christian hell is to know my grandmother. I guess it is important to have the latter book in case a flower show decides to open up a division for casket arrangements and pulpit arrangements. I will then make it easy on myself and provide an atheistic interpretation. This book also tells me how to make “secular arrangements.” I was not aware that plants had religious affiliation… I need to stay away from the fundamental plants.

Popularity: 5% [?]