Blog Changes & a GIVEAWAY

The clock is ticking and July 1st, when Google Reader disappears, is fast approaching.  I was late to the party learning about this and have spent a long day trying to figure things out.  But alas, I've switched my RRS Feed to Bloglovin' and, if the buzz around Blogland is true, I've added the new "Follow Me on Bloglovin" button you see in the top right navigation bar just in case Google Friend Connect disappears too.

So, to kick things off and ask you to pretty please click on my Bloglovin' Follow button, I'm having a Giveaway!

But first--  If you haven't made an RSS feeder change yet, you need too or you'll lose all the blogs you follow.  Yikes!  Here's the helpful blog that assisted me in making the switch-- Jilly Be Joyful.  I found her instructions very easy to follow.  But one thing--  I was not able to make the switch on Foxfire, I had to go through the process on Safari-- why I don't know, but if the switch not working on your usual system, try another one.

So about that Giveaway...  Thanks to the generosity of the awesome blogger, The Wizard of Otin, I have an autographed copy of his novel In Blog We Trust.  I found it to be a fast-paced thriller loaded with suspense, murder and a little sex, all tied a very mysterious blog that had people doing crazy things...  It's terrific and I think you'll enjoy it.

All you have to do to win is leave a comment letting me know you FOLLOWED ME ON BLOGLOVIN'--  Just click that button on the top of my Nav Bar in the upper right corner.

I've been reading Otin's scary stories on his blog for the past nearly 4 years and LOVE THEM.  He's a blogger who followed his dream and was able to publish not one, but TWO novels--  How awesome is that!  

Otin latest novel, 12:19 is available on e-Reader format NOW and is so scary I can only read it with all the lights on and when my husband is home!  Here's a little tidbit about his new book 12:19...

12:19…The time has been set…
Violet and Johnny Dotson pull up stakes and relocate to the beautiful countryside near Asheville, North Carolina in an attempt at starting their lives over after series of miscarriages. Unbeknownst to them they have actually been summoned there by a higher power.
Locked away in a mountaintop mental institution, J.C., a mysterious man who was the only survivor found at the scene of a brutal murder/suicide, will only utter five words… “I am the son of God.”
Strange events centered around the unknown patient spur Detective Tom Drayton to connect several bizarre deaths to the time of 12:19.
Armed with an old priest’s advice and a touch of new found faith, Tom follows a path that could very well lead him to the destruction of all mankind.  But is he doing God’s bidding, or could he in fact be the dreaded serpent himself?
12:19…The clock is ticking….

One of the darkest things you'll ever read!  Order info is HERE.

See, I told you it was scary!  Even the cover with that snake gives me the willies. 

The Giveaway closes at Midnight PT July 4th.  Otin will ship In Blog We Trust directly to the winner.  You must have a blog to enter and make sure I can reach you via email if you win.

So come on-- Enter to win The Wizard of Otin's (aka Michael Infinito) In Blog We Trust.  Again, all you have to do is click on the "Bloglovin's Follow Button on the top right navigation bar.

What RSS feed are you switching to?
Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins
Photo Credit: Michael Infinito
Photo Credit: © allapen - Fotolia.com

Me, A to Z

Do you know Ami. Mental. and Suldog-- both terrific bloggers?  They participated in this get-to-know-me and I am too.  I was surprised that a few of the questions had me thinking hard for the answer!

Age:  Inching dangerously close to 55. 

Bed Size:  Queen-- I like to know hubby is close by when I sleep. 

Chore You Hate:  Window washing, which I really need to do. 

Dogs:  Since we were robbed, I'm thinking about getting a great, big, scary one with gigantic teeth and a ferocious bark. 

Essential Start To My Day:  Sadly, a Coke Zero. Or a nap. 

Favorite Color:  Blue-- the color of Forget Me Nots. 

Gold or Silver:  Gold, but bling is bling and I like it all.

House or Apartment:  House.. that always seems in need of repair. 

Instruments Played:  Guitar, for about 3 weeks when I was 12 years old.  My guitar teacher looked like Bobby Sherman. 

Job Title:  Human

Kids:  I prefer borrowing other people's kids so I can give them back. 

Live:  The City of Angels 

Married:  Nearly 20 glorious years! 

Never Again:  A "cleanse" consisting of nasty green drinks to help me loose weight. (Which it did not!) 

Other Fun Fact:  I'm a pretty good tap dancer.  No really, I am. 

Pet Peeve:  Cigars 

Quote:  "Do right.  Fear not."  I saw this on an antique embroidered sign more than 15 years ago and I'm still kicking myself for not buying it. 

Righty or Lefty:  Righty tighty, lefty lousy, is that what you mean? 

Siblings: Four-- Three cute sisters and one handsome brother.  I'm the 2nd oldest or as I prefer to say, the 4th youngest. 

Time You Wake Up: Usually way too early for my liking. 

University Attended:  Does the school of hard knocks count? 

Veggies You Dislike:  Lima beans-- further proof that God has a sense of humor. 

What Makes You Run Late: Nothing, I'm always freakishly early.  Always. 

X-Rays:  I wonder if they make me look fat. 

Yum Food:  Mashed potatoes and gravy-- home made of course.  And chocolate. 

Zoo Animal Favorite:  It always looks like party time at the Monkey House!

Ami was kind enough to type up the list (below) so it's easy to cut and paste to play along.  Short or long answers, it's your call.  Let us know if you do so we can compare lists.  xo jj

Age

Bed Size

Chore You Hate

Dogs

Essential Start To My Day 

Favorite Color

Gold or Silver

House or Apartment

Instruments Played

Job Title

Kids

Live

Married

Never Again 

Other Fun Fact 

Pet Peeve -

Quote

Righty or Lefty

Siblings

Time You Wake Up

University Attended

Veggies You Dislike

What Makes You Run Late

X-Rays

Yum Food
Zoo Animal Favorite

Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins

Win, Win, Win

It's all good news today, ladies and gentlemen-- In fact, my news is so good that I swear angels are singing.  As 2012-- the year that kicked me to the curb repeatedly, winds to a close, you won't hear me moaning about burglars or large mice or the seeming endless drama of late.  Nope, today it's all good news.  Everybody wins!

For starters, the lovely Lilly of Lily's Life is the winner of my Christmas ornament giveaway courtesy of Attila the Mom and Highland Roses Design Studio.  Please check out both blogs and the ornament shopping site-- These ladies truly are awesome longtime bloggers with great writing and a strong sense of community in Blogland.

Second, I'm sitting up a little straighter in my chair today with a big goofy grin on my face.  Out of the blue, I received a very nice surprise from the Huffington Post.  No, I'm not finally showing my face in the photo below, but my little blog was one of seven blogs they like for post 50 women!  I'm ignoring the fact that HuffPost/50 solidifies my age as clearly not 40-something anymore but this recognition kinda makes being almost 55 okay. 

CLICK HERE FOR THE ACTUAL STORY ON HUFF/POST 50

What I especially like about the HuffPost/50 mention is that the sidebar next to my blog screenshot (not shown in the above photo) says "Joanna Jenkins muses about life, friends and family, and also offers a nice list of other awesome blogs." That means many, many of you, my dear blog friends, are also included in this recognition and that makes me very happy.

I have absolutely no idea why or how my blog was selected but I'm pretty sure it's because of word of mouth from YOU and for that I am deeply grateful.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.

The other thing I like about this HuffPost/50's list of blogs is that they ask for comments with YOUR suggestions for other blogs.  So please--  CLICK HERE for the full feature, and if applicable, add YOUR blog to the list so the Huffington Posts knows about you.  Tell them Joanna sent you.

And while you're there, pretty please click the LIKE button for my blog and/or leave a commet.  (Hold your curser over my screenshot for the sidebar box and the LIKE button appears.  Or scroll all the way down to get to the comment section.)   Thanks a million!

How many blog do you usually read/follow?
Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com  -  Joanna Jenkins
Photo Credit: © Fotowerk - Fotolia.com and Huffington Post

Anniversary Giveaway!

Blogger has been having its way with me over the past few days by not saving any of my drafts. So I'm hitting the "publish" button without saving this post and hoping for the best. Is anyone else having the same problem-- disappearing post drafts???

Three years ago today, on a whim, I started this blog. Mind you, at the time I'd never read a blog and wasn't exactly sure what the purpose was, but here I am happily celebrating what has grown into a meaningful and important part of my life.

To say I've come to love this medium and the people I've connected with in cyberspace is an understatement. Through this blog I've met people from all walks of life and from all over the world.

You've read and stuck with me as I droned on (and on and on) about life's mid-life lessons. You've shared in some of the saddest losses of my life and the grieving process that followed. You've laughed with me at my mishaps and cheered me on when I was sick or blue.

And for all of those things and more, I thank you.

I never expected to make such meaningful and close connections with people I've never met in person. But like so many have written in your anniversary posts, that's exactly what's happened and for that I am grateful. You know who you are and I thank you with all my heart.

Over the years I have read some amazing, funny, inspiring, mind-blowing and just plain outstanding stories and poetry not to mention seeing some incredible photography as well. I didn't expect posts like these when I started blogging either. The depth of talent in the blog community is beyond my wildest expectations and I'm confident that one day, when I see your names on the NY Times Bestsellers List, I'll be able to say "I followed him/her when they were blogging!"

The time you have taken to leave me comments and to share your opinions humbles me. Again, thank you for your generosity and kindness.

To mark this occasion, the wonderful Izzy from Under The Copper Sky has graciously offered a gorgeous handmade necklace for an Anniversary Giveaway. I'm a huge fan of Izzy's work and wear a pair of her earrings on almost a daily basis. Her work is beautiful and I'm sure who ever the lucky winner of this Giveaway is will be a fan as well.

Hand stamped copper with jasper.

Accented with chocolate recycled silk sari and copper chain.

18" in length.

To enter-- Just leave a comment below!

If you'd like a second entry, please visit Izzy's Etsy Shop and have a look around.

I'll bet you love her jewelry too! We're doing this on the honor system so leave a second comment if you pay her a visit.

Easy Peasy! (You must have a blog to enter. Giveaway ends at midnight, PT February 17th.)

Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing your world. It's a pleasure knowing you. xoxo jj

Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins

How nice of Blogger to suddenly make the spacing and font size go crazy too! Sorry folks.

Photo Credit: Cupcakes © 14ktgold - Fotolia.com Photo Credit: Necklace

The Way It Was...

I strolled through my posts from 2011 and it got me thinking of what I did and didn't accomplish, participate in, find, lose, regret, wish I'd done, happy I did, and the likes. In no particular order they are as follows...

1) The Kardashians. Why on earth did I get hooked on watching that mess of a family on TV!?!

2) I still, at age 53 3/4, do not color my hair, a claim that neither Katy Perry or Lady Gaga can make. I'm kinda proud of that.

3) There has been no more choking on food from Taco Bell, but sadly taco cravings were replaced by McDonald's cheeseburger cravings. I'm going to need serious Rehab to break that habit. Real Rehab, not Charlie Sheen Rehab, but my thighs will eventually thank me.

4) Another year and I still have yet to see a Harry Potter or Twilight movie. I think that's a good thing.

5) I watched Oprah's "final show" in 2011-- All three of them. But I have a very hard time watching her new network, OWN-- The "all self-help, all the time" channel.

6) All my "bling" is still hidden as the neighborhood robbers continue to elude four private security patrol companies and the LA Police Department. That's why I decided against bidding on Elizabeth Taylor's gems. Wink, wink.

7) My beloved Mac computer was repaired with a massive $900+ fee waived. When Steve Jobs passed away I was surprisingly sad considering I never met him and knew very little about him. It's nearly time to retire my aging laptop and when it's replaced I'll say a prayer of thanks for Steve.

8) After three weeks with 15 mouse traps of various sizes, shapes and styles, smeared with half a jar of peanut butter around my house, I'm convinced that the plumber's claim of "big poops" belonging to what I imagined to be football-sized mice, simply do not exist. Traps are empty and the house has been scoured from top to bottom without so much as a spec of additional "poops" discovered. Phew!

9) Many birthdays and a few births have been celebrated in our family. My sewing machine and I have worked overtime to keep up and that makes me happy.

10) In 2012 I hope to go to New York City and see the 9/11 Memorial. Hard to imagine that awful day was ten years ago but I continue to pray.... for all of us.

11) Spring cleaning: No. Maybe/perhaps/possibly getting to winter cleaning: Yes.

12) I helped move, schlep and paint BFF and Godson's new home. We've accomplish a great deal but still have much work to do.... As in BFF just bought a tile cutter to remodel her bathroom. Help!

13) I did not Occupy Wall Street or anything else, unless your count the above mentioned Micky D's.

14) Kate and William: High Five to the new Royals.

15) Pinterest: IN. Martha Stewart: OUT

16) $27,000 returned to Bank of America. Still no thank you.... or comment.... or anything. Just a much smaller checking account balance.

17) Our swimming pool is still in place. I check-- Every. Single. Day.

18) I need to stop slacking and blog more over HERE.

19) Possibility of a dog joining our family this year? 50/50 but inching up bit by bit.

20) Programs on my TiVo: "Good Wife", "Glee", "Gray's Anatomy", and Anderson Cooper's daytime show-- I had such high hopes for him. What a disappointment.

21) Number of nights spent in hospitals by loved ones in 2011: 67 - Translation: Too damn many.

22) Numbers of bursting buttons by proud parents in our family: Countless. Many of those moments I got to witness and that makes me happy.

23) Number of trips back home to Ohio in 2011: Eight. Many were tear-filled and sad with the passing of my sweet Step-Father but some were pure joy, like this one...

24) Number of Giveaways on this blog in 2011: Three. Another one's coming January 6th!

25) Goals for 2012 include:

-Less tears. More joy.

-Less anxiety. More meditation.

-Stop buying fabric and use up what I already have. (Which should last me til the year 2028!)

-Organize closets-- again. Then stop messing them up.

-Stay healthy or at least healthier.

-Dress up more often.

-Cut my hair and remember how much I will save on Botox if I have bangs. And no crying at the hair salon.

-Go to a different museum at least once every month.

-Move more... Preferably up hill at a fat-burning pace with weights in my hands, the wind in my hair and a butt like Pippa Middleton.

Wishing you all a wonderful , happy and healthy 2012! Thanks for all your blog love.

Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins

Photo Credit: © Callahan - Fotolia.com

Fly Away

Continental Airlines sent me a lovely gift in the mail today. It arrived in a big fancy envelope and even included luggage tags! It was a Silver Elite card that qualifies me for free upgrades, bonus mileage and other nice perks for frequent fliers who spend way to much time on their cramped, stuffy airplanes flying cross-country.

I was all over those fabulous upgrades until I read that the card-- received December 15th-- was for the year 2011 with a January 31, 2012 expiration date. So yeah! I qualified for a 2011 upgrade card but I didn't get it until 45 days prior to expiration.

Huh?

I could have used those upgrades on the eight flights I made back home to Ohio this past year but alas, my card arrived with only a few weeks to actually use it.... And since Cleveland is colder than a you know what this time of year, that big fancy promo package and Silver Card they sent me is pretty much useless.

But, not wanting to give up the dream of Business Class air travel with big cushy seats, I called Continental's Elite Desk and got a guy that said....

"Um, well, hmm, ahh, wow, um... I'm pretty sure you can maybe perhaps use it longer... yeah, um... probably... huh... yeah... could you, um... maybe call back tomorrow... if you want... and maybe speak to a supervisor because... um... our office is closing for the evening."

Will I maybe, um, sorta, probably, um... call back and try to get a full year of benefits? You betcha! Cleveland to Los Angeles is close to a 5 hour flight!

But it does give me pause as to the quality of my hard-earned frequent flyer points, not to mention the IQ of their customer service people. But oh well, you get what you pay for.

#####

And.... Have you noticed the new Google Profile Page-- The one that distorts 95% of our profile photos so we look like our picture was taken in the reflection of the crazy mirror at the carnival? That stinks, but that's not my problem....

My Blogger problem is when I click on your comment on my blog I link to this new page (the one with the crazy looking profile pic). Then, when I click on the link to your blog, about 25% of the time I'm getting this message...

Profile Not Available

The Blogger Profile you requested cannot be displayed. Many Blogger users have not yet elected to publicly share their Profile.

So unless a lot of you have suddenly gone underground, there's a problem because I'm trying to read your posts and can't leave comments. Are you having this problem too?

Hope your holidays are great so far.

Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins

Photo Credit: © jaddingt - Fotolia.com

Bye-Bye

I'm blaming it on my high school boyfriend, Roy-- He had no telephone manners whatsoever. At the end of our countless conversations-- you know the high school kind with long pauses, mindless chit-chat and lengthy monologues all about him-- When I'd say it was time to wrap things up to start my homework he'd say "Okay." followed by a CLICK.

He'd just hang up.

No parting with sweet sorrow, no see you later alligator, not even a single syllable "bye". Roy would simply drop the old fashioned, big, clunky telephone receiver into the cradle with a loud clunk.

I hated that and never forgot it. I've made it a point not to be that-- what would you call it-- rude, thoughtless, annoying, whatever. I'd make sure people I was connecting with knew I was saying a proper "good-bye."

So long story short, that's why 99% of the time I sign-off on my blog comments with my initials and why I sign my name at the end of each post-- That's my "good-bye" so to speak.

But, in the era of Internet shorthand, I'm one of the very few who does it-- And since my name, like yours, announces myself loud and clear before my comment, it's a bit redundant and stating to make me feel a little foolish, like I'm taking up too much space or something.

Hmm, what's a girl-- with a longstanding habit, to do. I'm not sure yet.

But I do know there are only a few days left to enter my

Silver, Gold and Cash Giveaway!

You could win a gorgeous handmade ornament and a $50 Visa Gift Card!

Giveaway ends at Midnight, Pacific Time, December 10, 2011.

All you have to do is leave a comment below on THIS POST telling me if you prefer the silver or gold ornament pictured here if your win. For full contest details CLICK HERE.

Anyone, anywhere can enter, not just in the USA. So come on and join in!

The gorgeous ornaments are from Attila The Mom at Cheaper Than Therapy who heads up an awesome organization that's a privately-funded project providing individuals who live with disabilities and/or mental illness as well as the family caregiver an opportunity to step towards independence through the sale of their own art and crafts creations. Each distinctive ornament is produced by several sets of hands-- all working to create something special.

Click here for details for a 10% discount on all ornaments. I ordered several and trust me, they are stunning and very reasonably priced.

Come on, please enter the Giveaway and please check out the beautiful ornaments.

Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins

Photo Credit: © Andrey Zyk - Fotolia.com

Blogless

Finding my blogging groove seems to have escaped me of late. It's not that I'm not out there reading your blogs, because I am, it's just that I'm short on leaving meaningful comments and even shorter on blog topics to write about myself. And I know why....

Yes, life is beyond busy right now but it's not really about the time. It's more about feeling the need to edit myself these days so as not to invade other's privacy, break confidentiality or just plain tick people off by writing about what's on my mind.

Nothing is life shattering or tragic by any stretch of the imagination-- It's just that even though I'm smack in the middle of drama, drama, drama, the "drama-o-rama" isn't necessarily my story to tell and it's leaves me in a bit of a "blogless" state of mind with nothing but drivel left to write about. (Yawn.)

The last time this happened I announced I was taking a blog break to find my mojo again. Of course that meant that within minutes of publishing that particular post, I immediately thought of countless things to write about and my blog break lasted less than a few days. Go figure.

So I'm going to try that again, this time spending a week back home in Ohio visiting family, and officially say to all of you, my dear blog friends, that I'm taking a break from blogging but hope to be back soon-- With more than drivel to write about.

Until then.....

Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins

Photo Credit: © DIDEM HIZAR - Fotolia.com

$902.64

It was an average day of blog reading, net surfing and email checking when all of a sudden my laptop screen started blinking faster than a strobe light disco ball from the 80s. The more it flashed, the faster dollar signs passed before my eyes, as I watched my computer's screen slowly fade to black with a little sighing sound for its finale.

My beloved MacBook Pro computer died. I said a prayer, or maybe I cursed out loud, because I had a very bad feeling about the likelihood that my 3 year old baby would live to see another day.

Around that time my allergies also kicked in, got wonky, and my eyes swelled-- really big. Allergy season in my 'hood is not pretty and this one truly had its way with me. I spent the next several days looking a lot like Quasimodo minus the hunchback, scaring small children and takeout delivery guys who got a peek at my sad eyes.

This delayed me several days in taking my Mac to the Apple Store to see if they could breath life back into it without costing me an arm and a leg. Finally, with improved but still nasty allergies, and clad in the biggest pair of sunglasses I owned, I strolled into the Apple Store and bellied up to the Genius Bar.

I seriously think the Geniuses were a little uncomfortable when they saw me looking like a loon in those shades in their store, but I did quietly mention to my Genius guy that I had a "vision problem". The look on his face immediately registered that he was having a vision problem looking at me too.

Long story short-- Apple's Genius saved my you know what and knew immediately what was wrong-- It had a fancy name for what sounded like a "recall" part but it needed several days to be ordered and repaired.

When I picked up my new-and-improved, cleaned and spruced up laptop yesterday, it included an invoice indicating the cost was $902.64.

Whoa!

Then I saw my "Amount Due" was $0.00 because of the recall. Let's just say I heard the angels singing.

I was still wearing my sunglasses when I took my computer home but this time I almost skipped out of the store. A free repair on a high ticket item and getting my laptop back beats allergy season any day.

It feels like I've been gone from Blogland for months but I'll be making the rounds and catching up with everybody over the next week. I've missed you!

How's life treating you?

Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins

Photo Credit: © Benn - Fotolia.com

Postcards

I have a soft spot in my heart for teachers-- really good teachers who are committed to their students and teach and love them all at the same time. One such teacher, Mrs. H, a truly gifted Speech Language Patholigist in Florida, will retire after decades of teaching in May.

Mrs. H has had a profound impact on my blog friend Se'Lah of the Necessary Room's daughter so she is hosting a Random Act of Kindness Postcard campaign to reach out to Mrs. H and her preschoolers. She asks...

To provide the children in her classroom some perspective about the global connectedness of humankind, and as a gesture of loving-kindness, would you please join me in sending the class a postcard from your corner of the world? They will track each postcard's point of origin on a world map kept in the classroom. At the end of the school year, the postcards will be evenly distributed to the children as a keepsake from their classroom experience with Mrs. H.

If you'd like to join me in sending these preschool children a *Friends of Makeda* postcard, please email me at necessaryroom@gmail.com and I will gladly provide you their mailing address. Please note that I have Mrs. H's permission to do this. She would like to thank you in advance for your thoughtfulness.

For more about Mrs. H and Se'Lah's Random Act of Kindness, click HERE.

My postcard is already in the mail. Would you please join in sending one too?

Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins

Photo Credit: © raven - Fotolia.com

Sundays In My City #61 - Elephants, Trees & Dominos

A happy member of the Sundays In My City community.

***TREES***

This is our neighbor's house that's under construction.

I have spent the last four months trying to figure out the name of this tree.... Hours on Google, the Sunset Western Garden Book cover-to-cover, about fifteen nursery people and every dog walker in the neighborhood who wondered why I was taking pictures of this tree. The tree belongs to a neighbor who doesn't know the name either.

We had one in our yard just like it, but it up and died for no apparent reason about six moths ago and has since been removed. But it was a great tree that smelled sweet in the springtime and I want to replant with the same kind.

To say finding the name of this tree was nearly a full-time job is an understatement.

But finally, I wondered into the local hardware store on Friday that also has a small nursery so, since I carry tree pictures and a hand full of dead leaves with me all the time, I asked the nursery guy if he knew and HALLELUJAH! It's a Pittosporum Undulatum. I can't pronounce it, but I've got the name and the tree is finally on order.

So stay tuned, one of these Sundays I'll have a tree of my own to show you.

***ELEPHANTS***

I was happy to see my mailman on Saturday-- He brought my gift from Margaret at Nanny Goats In Panties' White Elephant Gift Exchange... And what a gift it is!

A brand new Touch-Free Sensor Soap Pump from Simple Human. Classy, huh!?!

It's one of those dispensers that all you have to do is place your hand under the spout for soap to magically appear. Cool gift but it will definitely be rotated into the next White Elephant exchange I participate in. Why?

Three simple words.... "Batteries Not Included".

I have a ton of batteries on hand, but I do not have time to keep track of battery levels for a soap dispenser.

So thank you Redhead Ranting, this definitely qualifies as a White Elephant in my book, albeit it a nice one. And, thank you Margaret for organizing this very fun party. It's been a hoot seeing all the gifts bloggers have received. Click here to see them too.

***DOMINOS***

A million thanks to Lisalulu from The Davis Dialogues for sending me her Domino Necklace. It's so fun and was so nice of her to send it to me "just because". Thanks Lisalulu. If you don't know her, she's a great cook, has a wonderful family and a terrific sense of humor. Click here to say hello.

How's your Sunday?

Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins

For More Sundays In My City CLICK HERE.

White Elephant

If she doesn't like it, I'm blaming it on Yul Brynner-- You know the King of Siam. By "it" I mean the gift I sent to a fellow blogger as part of Margaret at Nanny Goats In Panties' White Elephant Gift Exchange. Do you know what a "White Elephant" is?

White Elephant

–noun

1.

a possession unwanted by the owner but difficult to dispose of: Our Victorian bric-a-brac and furniture were white elephants. [This blogger's translation: junk]

2.

a possession entailing great expense out of proportion to its usefulness or value to the owner: When he bought the mansion he didn't know it was going to be such a white elephant.

3.

an abnormally whitish or pale elephant, usually found in Thailand; an albino elephant.

Origin: 1850-1855- from the perh. apocryphal tale that the King of Siam would award a disagreeable courtier a white elephant, the up keep of which which would ruin the courtier

I took my White Elephant gift selection seriously, wrapping the most tacky, useless, get-it-outta-my-house gift I could find. Afterall, it's supposed to be a gag gift, right?

But what if one man's trash is another man's treasure and the blogger I sent the gift too actually really, really likes it? Do I make light and say I misunderstood the rules of engagement? Or do I tell the truth-- That this Love Birds Soap Dish.....

....Has been passed around my family for years in our annual Holiday White Elephant Exchange.

Fortunately my Mom is a good sport because when she first purchased this gift for my Baby Sister about eight years ago, she sincerely thought it was the perfect gift for her. Sis had other ideas and wondered if perhaps she had been switched at birth because it was definitely not her taste, not ever. So Mom promptly suggested a White Elephant Exchange for the following year and the passing of the Love Birds began!

For the record, I've gotten stuck with this dish three times over the years, which just goes to show, if you aren't at the exchange in person you're going to get the junkiest of the junk.

When Margaret posted about the after-holidays exchange party I jumped at the opportunity to rid myself of "something inexpensive and hopefully hideous"... Like the Love Birds.

Truthfully, it's really not that bad, it's just so unpractacle for a soap dish-- Did you see all those nocks and crannies for soap gunk to build up in. Who wants to clean that? Not me, and apparently not anyone else in my family either.

So Paige at Some Days You Gotta Dance I hope you don't love the Love Birds but if you do, I hope you can take a joke. If not, it's all Yul Brynner's fault.

Thanks to Margaret for hosting this little ditty. Stop by and read about more White Elephant treasures at Nanny Goats In Panties.

What's the craziest gift you've received?

Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins

Photo Credit: The King And I