A FRIEND TO MAN?

It turns out there is a fly out there that causes lumpy squirrels.

(Thanks to Isabelle Briand)

(And, yes, this blog is well aware that "Lumpy Squirrels" would be a good name for a rock band)

Comments

[Eleanor]

Of course you're welcome here, Di - more than welcome, to me you are essential as the person who taught me how to do links!

*smooches to Di*

[Di]

*gets teary eyed*

*admires her student*

Thanks hun! And now you're a professional linker! ;)

*hugs Eleanor and loves her a Krispy Kreme*

[Eleanor]

Thanks for all the Fish This is a fabulous review of H2G2!

*sobbing again because of dolphins*

*hopes link works so Di will be proud of her*

[Peri]

I put a business card for the KibEl Detective Agency in the Goofy Stuff folder on the Y.

[Eleanor]

Peri - That is one terrific business card!!!!
*hugs*

[Peri]

Thanks, Eleanor. I'm actually holding 8 of them in my hand right now. Let me know if you want some.

[Eleanor]

YES!!! *Fist pump*

[Tamara]

LAYNIE!!!! This is a FAMILY BLOG!!!

*averting eyes*

Wolfie, I am a scaredy too. Hold me?

[Marvin]

*drives by outside the swanky new MOAT building*

checkpoint!

*drives off for another lap*

[slyeyes]

WCRE: I'm in!!

(probably would have been a good idea to bring the power cord as well. Oh, well....I have 2 hours of battery left)

Peri: Good job on the business cards!

[kibby F5™]

Whoa!

Eleanor looks pretty serious with that weapon!

NICE job Peri!

Hey, suppose we can get tazzers now?

[Brat]

Hi Peri!

[Peri]

Hi Brat! :)

[kibby F5™]

uuuh, and I want some of those little spy bugs and thingies too...

[Susan]

Morning! (at least for a little while longer)

Peri, the cards are great!

[kibby F5™]

Ok, gotta run! I'll be out doing clandestine things.

If I told ya, I'd have to have Eleanor shoot ya. I've only got my silly string left.

I should be hearing from Brian this weekend too!

[slyeyes]

Bye, Kibby! Have a good weekend and say "hi" to Brian!

[Eleanor]

*FedEx's kibby a new 9mm*

*uses D'Art's return address in case Customs checks it out*

[Higgy]

Thanks to Marie for sending me the new link! I think Mad's signature would have worked too, but too lazy to go back and check.

I'm not really one for hiding the MOAT - back when the original was born, we mentioned it multiple times on the MB. Since then it's morphed, true - and some personal info has been put out there that some folks might not be comfortable airing to just anyone. Still, the strength of the moat comes from the open-mindedness of everyone here, IMHO. Anyway, nuff said.
*back to blurking*

[slyeyes]

I just got this e-mail, and I'd like to share. I think we've all been there at one time or another; just from different perspectives.

A study conducted by UCLA's Department of Psychiatry has revealed that
the kind of face a woman finds attractive on a man can differ depending
on where she is in her menstrual cycle.

For example:
If she is ovulating, she is attracted to men with rugged and masculine
features.

However, if she is menstruating, or menopausal, she tends to be more
attracted to a man with scissors lodged in his temple and a bat jammed up
his ass while he is on fire.

Further studies are expected.

[Susan]

*snork*

[Alex]

*snork*

There goes half a can of soda. Thanks, sly. :-)

[Di]

*waving at Higgy*

Hi'ya Higgy!

Um, Kibby, silly string? Is that what the
kids are callin' it these days?;)

Not so serious-but serious in a way RL
situation/question for the chicks of the Moat:
I am attending a wedding tomorrow, and in typical
Di fashion, decided to create a bit of drama
prior to the fabulous event. I did the Mystic
Tan thing, where you go in the booth at the
tanning salon and the *tangello* mist sprays your
body (yes boys, ramparts included) giving you a
lovely, quick, fuss free orangey-tan glow.

Now, you guys have to pinky promise not to
laugh... Promise? Ok.. read on..

Well, the drama is that my legs (which will show
due to the length of the dress) are covered in
*tangello* polka dots!

HELP!? Anyone have a way for me to get rid or at
least blend this stuff in by tomorrow afternoon??
Short of skinning myself, I dunno what else to
do. I took a 45 minute shower this morning,
scrubbing my body with a pumice stone to try and
get the stuff to blend. No such luck. Now I have
*tangello* polka dots highlighted in bright red
blotches from scrubbing so hard.

If anyone has any ideas (other than "wearing pants" Tamara! I can just hear you now!)... please help!?

Thank you in advance.

Tangellica

[slyeyes]

Maggie May!!!!

Love that song! I'm back at Illinois State University moving into the dorm; fall of '71.

Good times....good times.

[slyeyes]

Di, they sell bottles of that spray at the tanning places so you can "freshen" your tan. Maybe you can get some and blend it in?

It may be that your skin just doesn't absorb in places and that caused the spots.

You might try lemon juice to see if it will remove the rest.

I get a mystic tan from time to time. It rubs off on white clothing, though. I went to a wedding where the bride had gotten one. She wore a strapless dress and the stuff rubbed off on her dress under her arms.

[Eleanor]

♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫

*listening to WCRE with sly*

[D'Artagnan]

Oh boy, Di, I wouldn't be surprised if two months from now the *tangello* polka dot jokes are still running rampant (not rampart) here.

Sorry about your predicament, as a non-member of the female race I probably can't be of any help, other than to say if I went to the reception, I'd still be checking you out, polka-dotted legs or not.

On an unrelated note, apparently unless your name is Eleanor or slyeyes, WCRE doesn't let you in today.

[Susan]

*hoping no one is listening when I hit the wrong buttons...not that I would do that*

[Eleanor]

*speaking from total ignorance on this subjct but gives suggestion anyway*

Maybe you could buy some Bronzing stuff - like Estee Lauder makes, in a tone a little darker and rub it over leg to blend????

That's all I have.

[slyeyes]

Oh, crap. My battery is only going to last another 40 minutes or so. Apparently, it's using up power faster than it said it would.

*pretends she didn't hear anything wrong on WCRE*

D'Art -- you have to access it about an hour or so in advance of the noon show. At least, that's what works for me. Of course, by doing that today, my battery is going to cut out before the show is over.

*sob*

[wolfie]

*Didn't notice the start and abrupt end of that song*
Nope nope nope.

*Holds Tamara* Not that she's scared anymore, I just wanna hold her.

Di ~ tights instead of regular stockings. They are thicker and hopefully no polka dots will show thru.

*Dancing around her office annoying coworkers*

D'Art *giggles* If your name was wolfie you could get in.

[D'Artagnan]

*waits for sly's battery to die so he can get on WCRE*

[Eleanor]

Kenny Rogers!!!

*puts Kenny Rogers poster on Hunk Wall*

[Eleanor]

LTTG, D'Art - soooooooo sorry!

But as Kenny is saying, you have to know when to hold and when to fold...
*sigh*

[Eleanor]

Why is my gardener parked in my neighbor's driveway across the street?

[Alex]

sly, you mean you access WCRE and wait AN ENTIRE HOUR for it to load??? Usually when it does that to me, I just close it and let it go for a while. Just don't have that sort of patience. And neither does WMP. It stops after about 10 minutes.

(No, of course I don't have
Term paper still not done. Need to exercise. I'm hungry for lunch. Darned headache.
ADD.)

Hey, I think I just had a MOAT moment at home yesterday. The sun was shining, and the light reflected off of some fallen leaves in the back yard. The entire family (all 4 of us) gathered around one window hollering "Look! Something shiny!" [EXACT words]

I believe the "MOAT effect" needs further study, as its consequences reach people who don't even know it exists!

[slyeyes]

The Gambler!! My request 'cause of the Blackjack game earlier this morning.

*ding dong*

Oh, speaking of which, the caterer is here.

*opens door to caterer bringing in lunch for everyone*

Since I won, lunch is on me today.

ENJOY!

[wolfie]

We didn't start the fire. We didn't light it, but we tried to fight it.
Well, we couldn't let peri's Moat calender go in flames could we?

[Eleanor]

sly - Susan's playing "Donna"! Are you there????

[slyeyes]

No, Alex. It loads right away. I mean to get in before the limit is reached, I try it an hour before. If you try right at noon or so, it's blocked.

Ahhhhhhhhh.... Donna. I happen to like this song, for some reason.

:)

[Di]

*blushing*

Thanks D'Art. My ramparts and tangello legs wish
you were the only one at that reception to check
out our polka dots. ;)

*bites her lip nervously*

So I should buy a bottle of the stuff and see
what happens at home? I won't end up looking like
a walking mango? Then again, so long as the color
is even, I would be happy.

Better to be an evenly covered mango with legs,
than to be covered in tangellic spots I
always say!

*slaps self*

I think I breathed too much of that stuff in when,
I was in the booth...

Thanks for your help guys! I'll let ya know what
happens.

[Eleanor]

This song for D'Artagnan! *snork*
Too bad he can't hear it! *double snork*

[Susan]

You mean I played one for D'Art and didn't know it was for him?

[slyeyes]

Hey, I thought someone e-mailed Mr. Fish; but I haven't seen him today, and he posted this on the last Moat earlier today:

Uh oh.

Spaghetti-O.

Posted by: Mr.Fishair on April 29, 2005 10:23 AM

I'll send him another e-mail.

[Eleanor]

Exactly, Susan - It just came to me in a flash when I heard it - no premeditation!

[Eleanor]

Exactly, Susan - It just came to me in a flash when I heard it - no premeditation!

I just wanted to tease him for not getting the station!

[Eleanor]

I tried a new trick and it didn't work.
My bad.

[slyeyes]

eek. I just got a "low battery warning". 15 min. left. And now there's a red "X" on my battery icon.

[wolfie]

I did sly. But maybe Ya!H*ll ate the email. He's home today being Mr. Mom cause the Mrs. MoM is illing.

And is afternoon delight for anyone in particular? Inquiring minds want to know who's gettin some afternoon delights. Okay, maybe just my nosey self wants to know but I need to live vicariously through someone today.

*Slinks back to work*

[slyeyes]

Well...THAT was a fast 15 min!! It died.

OK, D'art, try it now!

[BigD®]

Afternoon delight reminds me of a story a friend of mine told me when he was doing some programming for the government. When someone ran an inquiry he would calculate the time it would take to load based on the parameters entered.
1. Please wait, this will take a few minutes.
2. Please wait, this will take about 30 minutes.
3. Please wait, this will take about an hour.
4. This will take a long while, go home and have a nooner.

Needless to say his superior (an officer) was not amused when the last message was displayed when he was running a query.

[slyeyes]

Well...THAT was a fast 15 min!! It died.

OK, D'art, try it now!

[sandy beach]

sly's battery must have died. I got in!

Sorry d'Art! Must take advantage of officemate's absence today...

[Jü§†®]

Brief Check in -

Sly & Eleanor - impending joblessness is NOT due to Maternity Leave. Its due to the Crapweasels that be deciding Maternity Leave is a good time to "restructure the department" which, effectively, removes my position.
I WAS told that I'm "welcome to reapply after they have things finished" *snork* YEAH RIGHT.

And no. I'm not bitter. A little pissed, but trying to look on the bright side. After all - wouldn't YOU LOVE looking for a new job while taking care of a 20 mo. old and a 2 mo. old???? :)

*going back to finish catching up and enjoying a day of "Boss Approved Blogging"*

Oh yeah. And I can't get into WCRE! :(
*pout*

[Susan]

"Afternoon Delight" was a result of great planning. I needed a song and it was there.

Sometimes I have everything planned out well.

Sometimes I am truly flying by the seat of my pants. Although that is not really an image we need to pursue at this point in time. (or indeed any other point in time.)

[sandy beach]

*wonders if moatetiquette requires her to give up connection that was bequeathed to another*

sly, can I keep it? I mean, you snooze, you lose. right?

[slyeyes]

Slow man dies!

****

Interestingly, now that I'm not on dial-up, I'm back to double posting.

[bangi]

Greetings moaties of the hidden kind!
*performs secret handshake*

[wolfie]

*Gives up seat on WCRE bus for Just*

Jump fast

*hugzzz*

[Susan]

Hi Bangi! I know you can't listen right now, but I'm going to play George Harrisons' "Bangla Desh" just for you.

[D'Artagnan]

Yay! I got on!

*thanks to sly's battery for giving up the ghost*

[slyeyes]

*whispering*

OK, who's going to tell D'art the All Request Hour is over?

[Eleanor]

sly -
*snork*

[Bangi_Sizzles]

i do not mind new ppl coming in.
i was new once.

i think Kibby's idea is great...anyone who wants to know whr the new moat is, can email him.

anyone who reads thru any previous moat, and decides to join us, probably deserves to join us. i say this because my theory is, anyone who thinks we're simply crazy ppl won't decide to join us.

or at least, that's my hope

[Susan]

Pssst, D'Art, I might be able to get in a song for you...but don't tell anyone...or they'll all want one...

The playlist for today...

Friday 4-29-05 Sharecroppers All Request Lunch Hour
News
“Just Once In My Life” Righteous Brothers
------
“Stand” REM---Michelle(blogchik)
“Free Fallin’” Tom Petty---Holly(wolfie)
------
“The Gambler” Kenny Rogers
“We Didn’t Start The Fire” Billy Joel
------
“Donna” Richie Valens
“You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling” Hall and Oates
------
“Start Me Up” Rolling Stones
“Afternoon Delight” Starland Vocal Band
------
“Little Willy” Sweet
“Don’t You(Forget About Me)” Simple Minds
------
“Dancin’ In The Dark” Bruce Springsteen
“Bangla Desh” George Harrison

(and as a note, one or two of these were requested by someone, for someone else, but I won't say by whom or to whom...just to preserve an air of mystery)

[bangi]

:S

Susan...i was going to request that song soon
OMG

[Brat]

wolfie - you probably didn't mean to, but a while ago when you used those Billy Joel lyrics......

*** EARWIG ***

snork

[D'Artagnan]

What, the All Request Hour is like, superior to the rest of the programming?

That's it! I'm outta here!

*clicks X on upper right corner of Windows Media Player*

*restarts Windows Media Player in order to guarantee slot in next week's show*

[slyeyes]

You aren't going to tell us who requested "Little Willy" and who it was for?!?!?

Inquiring minds are begging to know!!

[Brat]

wolfie - you probably didn't mean to, but a while ago when you used those Billy Joel lyrics......

*** EARWIG ***

snork

[Brat]

If we weren't guests here, I'd complain to the management!

DOUBLE POSTS DO VEX ME!

[bangi]

oh..i was so shocked i forgot to say
THANK U SUSAN!!!

[Susan]

Little Willy was, in fact, just one that I played, well, cause I felt like it. I considered Ballroom Blitz too...maybe next week.

[sandy beach]

What Bangi said.

And to those people who are worried about privacy: this is the internet. If you think this is private, it's not. Don't post anything that you would feel really badly about if other people see it.

Just my .02, as one who got here by her own initiative.

[Bangi_Sizzles]

Brat--it's not our
RSS Knickerbockers ...is it?

[Mad "about Weasel" Scientist]

Di - Neutrogena bronzer. They have a pre application scrub and a bronzer in light, medium, & dark. You should be able to get this at most drug stores. Try the scrubby stuff and then the bronzer. The nice thing about it is it has a tint at first so you can see how you are applying it and avoid streaks/spots, but then after a few hours that tint fades and you have a more real looking "tan"

Oh and I wasn't trying to be covert with my move to the new moat. I was having a lot of trouble loading the page and so was Peri and with all the activity on the main blog I just thought a clean thread would be a nice way to start the weekend.

[Brian B (in Prague)]

Boy, now that I'm in a foreign country, the blog clock is REALLY off.

Helloe to my MOATie friends from Prague! We just arrived and I had to buy a friggin 3 hour internet voucher from T-mobile wireless. Thankfully, it was only $10.

I have not contacted Kibby yet, I am going to try and call him tomorrow to maybe have dinner on Sunday.
(Kibby, czech your email).

I'll try to check in a little later, I don't want to waste my minutes. (Not that you guys are a waste or anything, it's just that....well....you know.....anyway)

[slyeyes]

OK, I'm going to tell you all this 'cause I'm not going to get any more work done for the rest of the day.

I dashed downstairs to grab something for lunch.

And I saw him.

It's been several years. We dated for a number of years, off and on. When it was good...it was SO good, but the bad times were't worth it. It was the situation of two good people making one lousy couple.

But neither of us could stay away. FINALLY, his job moved him across the state and with all of Missouri between us, we got on with our lives.

And then I ran into him a few minutes ago.

I had just paid for my salad, turned around to leave, and there he was -- staring at me with his mouth open. It was obvious he had seen me first. We both stood there -- just staring.

I'm sure we were blocking people -- I don't remember. I just remember staring and suddenly not being able to breathe.

He said "Hi"

I said "Hi"

We stared.

I said "Bye"

He said "Bye"

and I ran out of there. I did hear him calling my name, but there was an open elevator, and I went for it.

My salad is now in the trash can. I can't eat. I'm shaking. I want to run downstairs and say more than "hi" "bye" -- but I won't.

damn damn damn damn damn damn

please don't call
please call
please don't call
please call

[Susan]

{{{sly}}}

[D'Artagnan]

Oh sly, oh sly.

Welcome to the club. The last time I saw her, I just looked at her as we walked in opposite directions. She couldn't even look me in the eye. Not a word was exchanged.

[slyeyes]

Brian!!

(Distraction -- this is good!)

Take lots of photos for us. I'd especially like to see one of Kibby covered in Silly String.

[Brat]

Sly - covered in Silly String

Really covered, or almost covered or with just a smidge here and there?

Snork

Ever seen a silly string "gun". The can fits in the handle, when you squeeze the "trigger".....well you can imagine.

[Mad "about Weasel" Scientist]

Oh and speaking of the weekend:
WALPURGISNACHT

May 1 marks the final victory of Spring over Winter, but before departing, the witches and their cohorts have one last fling. The night from April 30 to May 1 is called "Walpurgisnacht", the night of Walpurgis or Walpurga. The festival is marked by numerous rituals to ward off evil. Legend has it that on Walpurgisnacht the witches would gather on the Brocken, the highest peak in the Harz Mountains. Because of the Walpurgisnacht scene in Goethe's Faust, in which Mephistopheles takes Faust to the Brocken and has him revel with the witches, the witches gathering became widely known.

Under Christian influence Walpurgisnacht became a fest to drive out evil spirits. Walpurgis derives its name from Walpurga or Walburga. Walburga, Abbess of Heidenheim near Eichstätt, a Catholic Saint, was known as the protectoress against witchcraft and sorcery. On the Eve of May 1, bells may toll in some areas and prayers may be said; there may be blessings with holy-water and blessed sprigs can be found in homes and barns. The most widespread remedy against evil spirits during Walpurgisnacht is noise. As soon as the sun sets, boys of all ages may make noise. Their equipment ranges from boards to beat onto the ground to pistols for firing shots.

In Bavaria the night from April 30 to May 1 is called a Freinacht or Drudennacht. For youth it is an opportunity to play tricks. They may stroll in groups through the streets and wind toilet-paper around cars, smear door-handles with tooth-paste, unhinge garden doors and carry them a few meters away, and they may displace shoe scrapers. It is said that at one time boys took a sparred-frame cart to pieces and reassembled it on the roof of the house of the owner.

Just thought you guys might want a few ideas of how to christen the new moat.

[sandy beach]

sly, get that salad out of the trash! You're going to need sustenance.

If it were me, I'd go back down and see if he's still there. I'd want to know what he's doing around there. And if he's now married with 2.4 children.

But that's just me. I'm always googling old lovers because I want to know what happened to them...

[Brat]

Sly - covered in Silly String

Really covered, or almost covered or with just a smidge here and there?

Snork

Ever seen a silly string "gun". The can fits in the handle, when you squeeze the "trigger".....well you can imagine.

[Bangi_Sizzles]

wait wait...i like the idea of a covert moat which can be entered thru Kibby
( i am not rephrasing that).

if ppl r going to read my posts and realize what a complete idiot i can be, i want to know who they r.
*sings*
we r family...

sure, we could all move off to individual messengers for complete privacy...but that wouldnt allow all our comments to be saved for others to read, when they come by.

( plus we DO want to remain 'accessible' to ppl who like us enuff to track us down)

we r trying to strike a tricky balance between privacy and openess and all of us have different levels of comfort.

so let's have a group grope and er... what was my point again?

[slyeyes]

*saves Mad's Post to read when time permits*

*tries not to giggle at Brat's double posting -- fails miserably*

Sandy, I've hit the chocolate already....and hopefully, he's left the building.

****

Line dances through Moat on the way back to work to the Dusty Rose Band's "One Step Forward, Two Steps Back"

One step forward, two steps back...this is the kind of dance that can never last...

*sigh*

[slyeyes]

*saves Mad's Post to read when time permits*

*tries not to giggle at Brat's double posting -- fails miserably*

Sandy, I've hit the chocolate already....and hopefully, he's left the building.

****

Line dances through Moat on the way back to work to the Dusty Rose Band's "One Step Forward, Two Steps Back"

One step forward, two steps back...this is the kind of dance that can never last...

*sigh*

[bangi]

SLY--whatever u do...dont have regrets.
call him, contact him...why not?

[Tamara]

Doooooo it, Sly!! DOOOOO IIIIT!

[wolfie]

IMHO, a group grope sounds like a good point to have bangi.
Brat ~ I was singing along, it wasn't meant as an earwig. Sorry, I'll try and warn you before I break out in song again.
Yall do realize, that should anyone be curious enough to really try and find us, it's as easy as joining the Ygroup. So we aren't really hiding, just... weeding out the ones who aren't willing to put some effort into finding our floating fun house.

*Does the happy 'just guilted the boss into letting me go home 2 hours early' dance* Amazing what mentioning (loudly) that he forgot secretaries day in front of others will do.

[Marvin]

*runs in after hearing Tamara yelling DO IT*

*sees she's just cheering sly on*

aw...darn

*plays it off like he had something exciting to say*

Hey! Um...I won't be here tonight! Yay! Wait...That's not exciting...Shoot! Oops!

*runs away from kibby in case he thought I meant it literally*

[Peri]

slyeyes, I think you should talk to him if the opportunity comes up again. Lots of things can change in a few years and the passion may be gone, or you may be different together now. You remember how it was and so your feelings remain intense. Maybe after talking with him for awhile you'll wonder what all the fuss was about or maybe you'll be better together now. Better than tossing your salad (oh my goodness!) and hiding in your office freaking out.

Perhaps you'd better not listen to me at all. I can't seem to get anything right these days and I'm sure I've just told you the worst possible things. I shouldn't be giving advise at all, and I'm not really. This is only my opinion.

Di, is the weather going to be coolish where the wedding is? If so, wear some really cool textured stockings.

[Eleanor]

*zips in with lots of busy stuff*
*has anxiety attack for sly so she can remain calm*
*group grope*
*group hug*
special bangi hug* (no e's
*applause to Mad for brilliant thesis*
*waves at Brian B*
*keeps fingers crossed for Neutrogena Bronzer*

I agree with every contradicting point of view re privacy and the Moat, because, IMO, they all wind up in the same place - and that's a good place, because we are good people -

*zips out to finish e-mail she was in the middle of writing and fogot about due to sly's crisis*

[wolfie]

Don't worry Marvin, he's only armed with silly string. Just don't go near open flames with it.
I don't know where you will be Marvin, but if you'd like to join a group of us at the regal on culver, we are seeing the 7:55 showing of HG2G.

[Eleanor]

I just refreshed after my post and saw Peri's advice - good advice Peri, but here's an alternate suggestion for sly:

Find him, suggest having a drink, have 2, and then have sex and get this out of your system!!!
Works on several levels!

ooops, back to e-mail!

[D'Artagnan]

*so glad to be thought of as Di's sister*

[Di]

Sly, I agree with the rest of the chicks... What do you have to lose? I mean besides maybe some dignity perhaps.

Wait a second, you're a Moatie! You shouldn't care about your dignity!
Hop to it chicka, and hop on him!

Whoops! Did I just type that?

*hides behind tub of bronzer hoping Sly won't paddle her*

[Tamara]

D'Art, I've always thought of you as sort of an aunt.

[Di]

ROFL

Sorry D'Art, I must have deleted the disclaimer from the bottom of that post that said you were not included in that grouping.

Now groping on the other hand, you'd most certainly be involved in that!