Let's hear if for the bhoys!

Cab driver: Is your husband a Celtic fan?
Me: Yes, how did you know?
Cabbie: You're pretty and Celtic fans always have good-looking wives.

Aww bless you cabbie for making me smile! And bless O'Dea and McGeady for leading the hoops to a 2-0 Cup victory over Rangers tonight in overtime.

World Kidney Day

When I was an undergrad, my sorority's national charity was the National Kidney Foundation, as when it was founded Kidney Disease was the number one cause of death in women. When I first joined it didn't mean much to me, but I still raised money. Unfortunately during my sophomore year, my aunt passed away due to Kidney failure and suddenly my philanthropy meant a whole lot more to me.

Some quick facts:

• 26 million American adults have Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), and millions more are at risk. Most people are not aware that they have CKD or are at risk


• There are 100,000 people waiting for organ transplants in the USA


• 24% of those waiting for kidneys received transplants, 76% are still on the waiting list


• More than 485,000 Americans are being treated for kidney failure, also called end stage renal disease, or ESRD. Of these, more than 341,000 are dialysis patients


• One year patient survival rates for kidney transplants are 94.5%(cadaveric) &97.9%(live donor)


• Virtually all religious denominations approve of organ and tissue donation as representing the highest humanitarian ideals and the ultimate charitable act

I'm not asking you to donate a kidney, but if you aren't already an organ donor, why aren't you? Personally I am an organ donor and am on bone marrow registers in the US and UK. If you can help save someone's life why wouldn't you?

My friend Gretchen donated one of her kidneys to her father; I can't imagine a more honorable and selfless thing.

So in honor of today, why not head over to the National Kidney Foundation website and even just learn more about kidney disease and organ transplantation. Or if you are really generous join the donor list or make a donation.

Hairy questions

So I'm going to get my hair done on Saturday and am wondering if I should do something different. I've had the same cut for over a year, but for all intensive purposes my hair has pretty much stayed the same for several years.

If you combine followers and those who have me in their google reader there are about 90 of you. So what do you think I should do? Stick with what I've got (long layers) or go for something new?

Just to be warned, if you suggest a short brown bob, you will get shut-down. There are three things in life that are unavoidable: death, taxes and me having long, blonde hair. I've tried above the shoulders cuts and it's not a good look for my moon face.

As for brunette, well I tried and nearly lost my mind. I'm open to various shades of blonde, but I think those who know me best will say I'm happiest in the champagne to platinum category.

Blondie's Random Rant: Copy Cat Tats

I love tattoos. I think they are beautiful and sexy and in general have been known to think a guy is hot based on his tattoos. That being said there a lot of people with a lot of stupid tattoos. I love Zack Morris, but I'd never do this.

(You can see 77 more people who decided to have the likes of Bob Barker, Bill Cosby and Bald Britney tattooed on them here.)

I'm not a big fan of people who walk into tattoo parlours and pick something off the wall. Why would you want something that who knows how many other people have? Don't you see the hundreds of douchey ex-frat boys running around with barbed wire/tribal arm bands? They look stupid!

Personally I think a tattoo should be something you've thought about and has at least some tenuous meaning to you. For example: I'm not Japanese, I have no Japanese heritage, I've never been to Japan and I didn't major in Japanese (although I did take one Anthro course on Japanese culture through film, but I digress) therefore I'd never get Japanese characters tattooed on me.

Now if you have some Japanese characters tattooed on you, I'm not trying to make you feel bad. Personally, it's not my style. I would, however, have Hebrew characters tattooed on me. I do have Celtic knotwork tattooed on me. See the link?


Anyway, everyday on my bus I see this girl. I'm going to say early-mid 20's and oh her tattoos (that I can see) drive me nuts. I can only assume she has chosen to commit another cardinal sin in my book: copying a celebrity tattoo.

Exhibit A: Celebrity Tat

Eve, rapper/actress. I'd never get claws printed on my girls, but I think somehow Eve manages to pull it off.

Exhibit B: Copy Cat Tat

Now bus girl, well not only does she not pull it off in the slightest, her paw prints looks like they came from that sad cat who is always trying to escape Pepé la Pew. The only similarity with Eve is that they both have tattoos on their breasts.

I know it's bad to judge people but I just can't help it. Plus really what's the chances she's got this one someplace else....

DST

Just a wee note to let you know while the States have "sprung forward" the UK won't until the end of March. Why? I have no idea, but for those who care here is the time difference until we do.

Los Angeles (PST: 7 hours behind GMT)

Cincinnati (EST: 4 hours behind GMT)

Glasgow (GMT)

And if the clock isn't the boss of you, why not blog about DST yourself and win one from Our Name is Mud!

"The Bucket List"

(x) Gone on a blind date
(x) Skipped school
( ) Watched someone die
( ) Been to Canada
(x) Been to Mexico
(x) Been to Florida
( ) Been to Hawaii
(x) Been on a plane
( ) Been on a helicopter
(x) Been lost
(x) Gone to Washington, DC
(x) Swam in the ocean
(x) Cried yourself to sleep
( ) Played cops and robbers
(x ) Recently colored with crayons
(x) Sang Karaoke
(x) Paid for a meal with coins only
(x) Been to the top of the St. Louis Arch
(x) Done something you told yourself you wouldn’t.
(x) Made prank phone calls
(x) Been down Bourbon Street in New Orleans
(x) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose & elsewhere
(x) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
( ) Danced in the rain-naked
(x) Written a letter to Santa Claus
(x) Been kissed under the mistletoe
(x) Watched the sunrise with someone
(x) Blown bubbles
(x) Gone ice-skating
(x) Gone to the movies
( ) Been deep sea fishing
( ) Driven across the United States
( ) Been in a hot air balloon
( ) Been sky diving
( ) Gone snowmobiling
(x) Lived in more than one country
( ) smoked weed in jamaica
(x) Lay down outside at night and admired the stars
(x) Seen a falling star and made a wish
( ) Enjoyed the beauty of Old Faithful Geyser
(x) Seen the Statue of Liberty
(x) seen a celebrity
( ) Gone to the top of Seattle Space Needle
(x) Been on a cruise
(x) Traveled by train
(x) Traveled by motorcycle
(x) Been horse back riding
( ) Ridden on a San Francisco CABLE CAR
( ) Been to Disneyland/world
( ) Truly believe in the power of prayer
( ) Been

A Picnic on the 405

Here's how it works:

1 - Go to Wikipedia. Hit “random”or click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:RandomThe first random Wikipedia article you get is the name of your band.

2 - Go to Quotations Page and select "random quotations"or click http://www.quotationspage.com/random.php3The last four or five words of the very last quote on the page is the title of your first album.

3 - Go to Flickr and click on “explore the last seven days”or click http://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7daysThird picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.

4 - Use Photoshop or something similar to put it all together.

5 - Put the result (or result) on your blog

Do you know how hard it was to not just cheat and keep refreshing until I found a name and quote and picture that I actually liked?