Top 10 toys, and thier histories

1. Lincoln Logs were invented by John Lloyd Wright, Frank Lloyd Wright’s son. The original instructions included a how to construct a replica of Abraham Lincoln’s cabin, but also how to construct Uncle Tom’s cabin.
2. Tinkertoys were invented after a stonemason saw kids being totally entertained by building things with pencils and spools of thread.
3. Hula Hoops have been around forever in various formats, but the “official” Wham-O toy was invented in 1958. The inventors promoted it by going around to various playgrounds and parks giving children samples and showing them how to use it. Something tells me two random men showing up in a park handing out toys wouldn’t go over that well today…
4. Sea Monkeys are real (and that’s what they look like). I always thought they were a scam because I never once saw living Sea Monkeys swimming around in their little plastic home. Not once. They were “invented” in 1957 by Harold von Braunhut, the guy who invented X-Ray specs. They’re really brine shrimp and are ideal for packaging as a toy because they enter a natural state of suspended animation in certain (shippable) environments. When kids release the “monkeys” into the prepared water, they “hatch.” The reason they’re so active (supposedly… I’m still bitter that mine never worked) is because one of the packets you dump into the aquarium contains a type of salt that increases the sexual activity of the little critters. Yep. Think about that the next time your kid is fascinated by Sea Monkeys.
5. Play-Doh was first sold as a wallpaper cleaner. How’s that for weird? You rolled it on the walls to remove coal dust.
6. Troll dolls were created in 1949 by a Danish fisherman who needed a cheap Christmas gift for his daughter because he couldn’t afford to buy anything. He used sheep’s wool for the hair. Thomas Dam’s dolls caught on; thus the original dolls were called Dam Dolls. I got in on the whole troll craze in the early ‘90s; I think they still reside somewhere in my parents’ basement. I remember some of their names… I believe Dud the Surfer was my favorite. That’s not a typo: Dud. Not Dude. He had his own theme song. I’m not entirely sure why I’m sharing this.
7. Slinky was invented by Naval engineer Richard James. He knocked a spring off of a shelf when he was working to develop springs that could keep ship instruments stable in choppy waters. The spring did what a Slinky does… it stepped down to a stack of books, then to the table, and then to the floor, where it righted itself into a cylinder. James knew it would be a great toy, and tests by neighborhood kids proved him right.
8. LEGO blocks were invented by Ole Kirk Christiansen, a master carpenter who lived in Denmark. The word comes from the Danish words LEg and GOdt, which together means “play well.” They later discovered that in Latin, Lego means “I put together.”

9. Raggedy Ann and Andy were created by writer and illustrator Johnny Gruelle. Ann was created as a doll in 1915 for Gruelle’s daughter – he reportedly named the doll after two books poems from a James Whitcomb Riley book – “The Raggedy Man” and “Little Orphan Annie.” Ann inspired Gruelle to write stories about her adventures, and in 1918, Raggedy Ann Stories was released. Her brother, Andy, showed up in 1920. I had a Raggedy Ann doll and she scared the crap out of me. Most dolls did. I had a porcelain doll once and I accidentally broke her arm, and I was convinced that she was going to kill me in the middle of the night for breaking her, so I kept her shut in the closet. To this day I have to have the closet doors closed when I sleep. Have I ever mentioned that my first horror movie was Dolls and I was in third grade? Let the psychoanalysis begin!
10. Sock Monkeys. The sock monkeys that we have come to know and love today – the ones made with Red-Heel socks – are thought to have come about in 1932. The distinctive red heel was given to the socks so customers would know they were getting authentic Rockford socks. When the Nelson Knitting Company discovered that their socks were being used across the country in this arts-and-crafts movement, they won the design patent for the sock monkey pattern and started including it in the packaging of their socks.
As you can see by my rants about Sea Monkeys and Raggedy Ann, these toys definitely dredge up memories (why are both of mine bad?). Share yours in the comments! Maybe we’ll do a follow up… I was itching to throw in Cabbage Patch dolls and Pound Puppies, but I was trying to keep the list more traditional.

I thought I loved you then

Songs play a big part in my life. Not so much the music, but the lyrics and the stories behind them. This happens to be my new favorite one, and both Brad and I looked at eachother and smiled that "I love you so much" smile and knew that we both felt that it described us when we met...so even though these lyrics are from the guys point of view, I can relate to it as well! Good job Brad Paisley!


Then by Brad Paisley~

I remember trying not to stare
The night that I first met you
You had me mesmerized
And three weeks later in the front porch light
Taking forty five minutes to kiss goodnight
I hadn't told you yet, but I thought I loved you then.

Now your my whole life
Now your my whole world
And I just can't believe
The way I feel about you girl
Like a river meets the sea
Stronger than it's ever been
We've come so far since that day
And, I thought I loved you then.

I remember taking you back
To right where I first met you
You were so surprised
There people around, but I didn't care
I got down on one knee right there
And once again, I thought I loved you then.

Now your my whole life
Now your my whole world
And I just can't believe
The way I feel about you girl
Like a river meets the sea
Stronger than it's ever been
We've come so far since that day
And, I thought I loved you then.

I can just see you
With a baby on the way
I can just see you
When your hair is turning gray
What I can't see
Is how I'm ever going to love you more
But, I've said that before.

Now your my whole life
Now your my whole world
And I just can't believe
The way I feel about you girl
We'll look back someday
At this moment that we're in
And I'll look at you and say
"And, I thought I loved you then."
And, I thought I loved you then...

Funny how songs relate to your emotions

There's gotta be something more
Gotta be more than this
I need a little less hard time
I need a little more bliss
I'm gonna take my chances
Taking a chance I might
Find what I'm looking for
There's gotta be something more
Five years and there's no doubt
That I'm burnt out, I've had enough
I could work my life away, but why?
I got things to do before I die
Some believe in destiny, and some believe in fate
I believe that happiness is something we create
You best believe that I'm not gonna wait
Cause there's gotta be something more

I ain't settlin'
For just gettin' by
I've had enough so-so
For the rest of my life
Tired of shootin' too low
So raise the bar high
"Just enough" ain't enough this time
I ain't settlin' for anything less than everything
With some good red wine
And my brand new shoes
Gonna dance a blue streak around my living room
Take a chance on love, and try how it feels
With my heart wide open
Yeah, you know I will
Find out what it means to be the girl
Who changed her mind
And changed the world
"Just enough" ain't enough this time

My week in a nutshell...

Today's posting is basically filled with random things from this past week!

Everything started out alright on Sunday...I worked my normal 6am shift and picked up 3 50Th Anniversary Barbies for $3.00 each!

(Sweet deal since they are normally $11.49!) I got one for my cousin's 12Th birthday at the end of the month, and one each for the girls. (Spoiled brats!) I don't remember much else about Sunday...it was just a day I guess.

Monday, ugh...I hate to even think about Monday! So I won't indulge details (it was that bad!) Although, I think I reminded my hubs how strong and mean I can get when I throw the kind of temper tantrum I did on Monday. Just how strong and mad was I? Look at the picture of my phone below:

No worries, though...I had a bright and shiny new one by Wednesday afternoon!

Tuesday was alright. A little stressed out still from Monday, still feeling like crap from my slight head cold and felt like I was going to loose my voice. Went to work, looked at the hottie I work with ;) Not too exciting, just alone with out my poor cellphone!

Wednesday was a little better. All the stress from the first part of the week seemed to slowly disintegrate and diminish after the rush of the afternoon (the only bad part of the day). (My phone came!) I called in to work, and was able to be home and watch the last 30 minutes or so of the elimination round of American Idol. I'm glad that Anoop was safe, but I'm still not hooked on him. I prefer Adam Lambert! ;)

Thursday was a little better. Although Teagan is getting into the habit of calling me at lunch time to bring her lunch because she doesn't want what they are having in the cafeteria! It was alright the first time, but by the third time...I was done with it, but the mommy I am, I took her lunch. Went to work, learned that the Killer Whale is part of the dolphin family and that my ETL-AP went to the same high school (many years ago!) as the 16 year old Jasmine from American Idol attends.

FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not only is it Friday the 13Th it's also payday! yay!! So, being it's Friday the 13Th, I believe that it is the reason for my horrible, terrible, no good week! I truly do because today has been easy as pie! I bought a new ring, a new book to read and a new movie!


As for Saturday...I work, and that's all I have planned so far! Hopefully the remaining of March will be good...somewhat!

27 days...and counting down!

The Hills - MTV Shows

I have neither

in•ten•tion
Pronunciation: \in-ˈten(t)-shən\
Function: noun
Date: 14th century

1: a determination to act in a certain way: RESOLVE
2: IMPORT, SIGNIFICANCE
3 a: what one intends to do or bring about b: the object for which a prayer, mass, or pious act is offered
4: a process or manner of healing of incised wounds
5: CONCEPT; especially: a concept considered as the product of attention directed to an object of knowledge
6 plural: purpose with respect to marriage


1mo•tive
Pronunciation: \ˈmō-tiv, 2 is also mō-ˈtēv\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French motif, motive, from motif, adjective, moving, from Medieval Latin motivus, from Latin motus, past participle of movēre to move
Date: 15th century

1: something (as a need or desire) that causes a person to act