Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Things That Should Not Be: Mustaches

Hi there, Devin here. Today on the Laura show, I present to you a new segment called, "Things That Should Not Be". This segment will document some of the more major atrocities in the world today. Let us begin.


I like a lot of things and I hate a few things, but one of the things I hate is mustaches.


Now as one who cannot grow any discernible facial hair, I may be perceived as a bit jealous. "Devin," you might say, "as a perpetual preteen, you must surely long for the feel of a gentlemanly stache resting on your lip." but most assuredly, you would be mistaken. Now don't get me wrong. I give my approval to any other facial hair, whether it be: The Grizzly Adams, the Abe Lincoln, the IT guy goatee, the soul patch, and even the dreaded neck beard; but I can hardly rest easy in a world wear a man can walk around sporting this monstrosity.


That's right, feel the collective shudder of a thousand years of bristly kisses, and centuries of tobacco juice caught in the stubble. You might have thought that the abomination of pitchers and porn stars went out with the homocide of J.R. Ewing or the decline of Hulk Hogan, but this subtle menace still continues to haunt America.

What I intend to prove to you, ladies and gentleman of the jury, is that frequency of a man sporting a 'stache is directly proportional to the probability of him being a creep.

Exhibit A: The Brawny Man


Brawny Man. The ladies love him. He'll come into your home and spruce the place up. Maybe he'll sop up that spilled grape juice in the dining room. Perhaps he will clean up the dust off your hardwood floors. Maybe he will put on John Tesh's greatest hits, light a few candles and SEDUCE YOUR WIFE! Every year, 40,000 American wives are spirited away by Brawny Man. It's not too late to save your marriage. Look for the warning signs: rugged good looks; denim shirt; and most of all, the molester stache. Dude can't even dye it the same color as his hair. He may be after your wife soon! Warn your spouse about the dangers of Brawny Man.

Exhibit B: Wilford Brimley


"Now Devin, Honestly?" you might say, "Wilford Brimley is a national treasure, how can you put him in the same category as Brawny Man?" Apparently quite easily. Sure this man brought us quaker oats, and helped us rid the nation of the scourge of "diabeetus", but there is a tails-side to every coin and a dark side to this grandfatherly old fellow. Did you know that Wilford Brimley (or as his german birth certificate reads 'Wilheil Brimhaut') served on the side of the Germans in World Wars I and II and refers to the American Civil War as "The War of Northern Aggression"?* Did you know he hasn't paid taxes for the last 42 years due to a glitch in the IRS computer systems** Did you know that he doesn't have 'diabeetus' at all, and in fact puts smashed up Reese's Pieces into the medicine bottles of local nursing home residents?*

*may not actually be true
**may have been stolen from the plot of "Office Space"

Yes folks, behind that down-home, folksy charm rests the violent heart of a deranged psychopath,



Or maybe a walrus.


Exhibit C: Adolph Hitler


Now Hitler was obviously going to be on here. He was "an ignorant f***head" as Eddie Izzard put it. His crimes go without saying. I can't in good conscience say that the mustache was worse than genocide, or conquest, or torture, but it definitely is on the list. Also, thanks to him, Charlie Chaplin hasn't been able to get decent service at any restaurant since about 1939.


Exhibit D: Burt Reynolds


What a turd. (pun intended)


These four men are infamous for many reasons: adultery, tax evasion*, murder and banditry but the thread that pulls them together is the mustache. These are not the only offenders. Other men who have disgraced the male visage include:

  • TV personality John Stossell
  • Dr. Phil
  • Snidely Whiplash
  • Children's icon Captain Kangaroo
  • And numbnuts extraordinaire Geraldo Rivera.
Thus we see, having a mustache is directly proportional to the probability of a man being a creep.

Now, we live in a world full of exceptions and counter-examples and it would not be fair to say that every mustache is sinful. Out of the millions of mustaches in the world, there are 3 exceptions.


Jon Waters- Never before has a man been so simultaneously classy and trashy. The shame of a mustache is negated by the genius of his tackiness.




Neil Jones- What man can say aught against Neil Jones?


and the Reigning Champeen... Tom Selleck.



This is the only man on earth who loses something as a person when he loses the soup strainer. I submit that he loses a big part of himself when he shaves, nay, we lose part of ourselves as a nation. While I would shout myself bloody and hoarse for Dr. Phil to lose the 'stache, I would kill any man who came within ten feet of Tom Selleck with a Bic Disposable.


That being said, Dr. Phil, Lose the 'stache you perv.



Tag from Mom Dixon

You know how you play that game for FHE, the memory game where you put a bunch of random items on the floor, look at them for a minute and then number a paper with the number of random items and try to remember what they were?

Well, let's play with the items in my purse. Blow up the picture, look at it for a minute and then try to name the items on a piece of paper and see how many you can get. There are 18 items if you don't count the duplicates.



Okay lets see how you did. The items from top left to bottom right are:

1. A bottle of orange OPI nail polish. You never know when you just might need to touch up your nails or get bored and need something to do so I have nail polish in my purse and my car.

2. My Kyrene ID badge. When I interned there last semester I always had to wear it. It hung from my rear view mirror but took it down and put it in my purse when I got my car washed the other day.

3. White Sunglasses. When Annie and I went to go and get her eyes checked at the doctor she had to get her eyes dilated. We went to the dollar store and got sunglasses afterwards. She loves to wear them everywhere.

4. Nail Clippers, more specifically bates brand. They are my moms and I don't know what it is about them but they are like super strength nail clippers. They are all rusted now but they still work magic. I just might get tetanus from using them. Eh its the price you pay.

5. Yellow Highlighter. A must have. I use it when I go over my YW lessons and the talks that go with them.

6. USB stick. For school.

7. Pink chapstick. Its aquafina brand chapstick. I love it. You can get it at wal-mart. It's like soft lips chapstick but way better flavors and it comes in a three pack.

8. Shower crayons. I was bringing them back from my dad's house. They are the funnest things to play with in the shower.

9. Black bracelet. It was in my car too when I cleaned it out.

10. Altoids. Annie's favorite mint. She is so easy to bribe with them and very willing to sit through adult stake conference with you if you have a box of them.

11. Film. I've been carrying around the 35mm Hannah Montana film for like 6 months. I just never go and turn it in. I really need to.

12. Pink Camera. Julia and I have the same one. This one is hers. She thought it was lost. It was in my car from the Disney land trip.

13. Quarter. I like change.

14. Pencil Container. I always have five billion pens rattling around in my purse so now I am a nerd and have the equivalent of the pocket protector for my purse.

15. Orange Chapstick. Aquafina brand again. Go buy some.

16. My wallet. I wish I had a cuter one. I'm so bored with mine.

17. Spearmint orbit gum. My favorite flavor is orange and cinnamon but I swear all they have anymore is like strawberry mojito and mint julep.

18. Weight Watchers point counter card. My friend wants me to start weight watchers together...I'm not so good at keeping to anything. I haven't yet used it. But I will. One of these days.

So, how'd you score?


I told Mom Dixon that more entertaining was when I looked in my purse the first time I saw this tag going around. I had a remote, miracle grow and sidewalk chalk. I was entertained.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Last night for our anniversary Devin took me out for a surprise dinner. We went to this little place in Tempe called House of Tricks. It was so fun and extremely tasty.


I kinda didn't take any pictures because I am an idiot but we overheard a lot or conversations. Devin and I are really bad at stopping mid conversation and finding each other both eavesdropping on the other tables conversations.

First we heard the table behind us, young couple probably in their late 20s. Girl who was obviously drunk slurring out to the waiter...
Girl: I really wish you weren't married Mike. I have the perfect girl for you.
Waiter: Ya (nervous laugh) bu it's funny to hear what kind of girls, people would set me up with.
Girl: It's just too bad. Think of it we could eat here all the time together.
Waiter: Ya (nervous laugh again) I can just imagine all the fun we would have. Can I bring you your check?

Then we found a couple who probably go to the renaissance fair every year and dress up. Man had a long pony tail, girl had long gross hair, having a conversation.
Girl: I just love Sinead O'Conner
Boy: Ya I only like her early stuff

What a music snob. Actually I don't think you can be a music snob if you like Sinead O'Connor


Last but not least there was a large group that was just joining at the end of our meal. We knew the girl that was arriving was the one that they were celebrating for but would couldn't figure out why. When she showed up they all did the ooh lets look at that dress ordeal and made her spin so they could see the back and then they got ready to order drinks. The honorary girl was at the end of the table. It was her turn to order.
Girl: Do you have like fruit punch?
Waiter: Umm no sorry we have cranberry juice, pineapple juice...etc Maybe if I mixed them all together hahah that might work.
Girl: Really do you think it would? Ya do that.
Waiter: I really don't think it would actually taste like fruit punch.
Girl: (disheartened) Oh well then I guess I'll just have the pineapple juice.
Crazy Lady at the table: You know pineapple juice is an excellent juice.

We later realized that this girl was there because she had just had her eighth grade promotion ceremony. That my friends is why you don't take fourteen year olds to fancy restaurants.


Other thoughts

I went to wal-mart the other day to get spray paint for girls camp project. When I went to check out at the express lane the guy says oh buying spray paint huh? Well I hope you're 18.
I'm thinking he wants me to show proof so I pull out my ID. I can see the scanner because its the self check out. He starts do the approval and doesn't even look at the ID then turns around after he's done and sees me holding the ID. "Oh", he says. "I really didn't need to see that."

I felt like the 40 year old lady who still hopes she gets carded when buying alcohol.

Monday, May 19, 2008

2 years later

Happy Anniversary to US!!!

Okay so maybe I've put on a little weight since the blissful event.
But now I'm just more fun becuase fat people are more fun right?



(We both looked about five when we got engaged.)

Anyway, Devin is keeping what we are doing tonight a secret so I'll fill in y'all tomorrow on what we do and take lots of pictures.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

I hate the Shins!

Hey all,

Okay so I may not necessarily hate them, but I think they are very overrated.

This is definitely Devin here, and the views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of Laura Fletcher or her subsidiaries.



I haven't put anything on here as of late so I thought I would drop a few recommendations your way. Here are some things I like as of late:


Songs:
- "A Little Luxury" by the Muffs (especially this song)
- "Worms of the Senses/Faculties of the Skull" by Refused
- "Que Shiraz " by Hey Mercedes
- "When You Get Drafted" by the Dead Kennedys
- "You You You" by the Mr. T Experience
- "Bring It On Home to Me" by Sam Cooke

Movies:
- Baby Mama
- American Graffiti

Books:
- "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris
- "As I Lay Dying" by William Faulkner
- "The Book of Mormon" trans. Joseph Smith
- "Winesburg, Ohio" Sherwood Anderson

People:
- Devin
- Laura
- You
- Ted Leo

Things:
- Grape Nuts
- "Scene It" on Xbox 360
- Water
- NPR
- Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal (the best webcomic in the world)

Check out at least one of these things as they have all made me joyous as of late.

Devin

Monday, May 12, 2008

Five things

1 - Five places that I go to over and over:

-My parent's house
-Mesa High/anywhere Julia demands
-Gilbert Public Library
-Wal-World
-Scrapbooks Etc (at least lately since I'm working on a couple of things)

2 - Five people who e-mail me (regularly) :
-Devin
-ASU professors
-Facebook
-Work
-Myself (to send papers I worked on at my parent's house)

3 - Five favorite places to eat:
-Panda Express (to worship once a week)
-Texas Road House
-Taco Bell
-Applebees for happy hour
-Ruth Chris (or at least it will be when I'm rich)

4 - Five places I would rather be right now:
-backpacking through Europe
-Boston, Mass
-anywhere on the north west coast like Washington, Oregon, Northern California
- Palo Alto, California in Law School (I wish)
- Our cabin...tear

5 - Five TV shows I watch all the time:
-America's Next Top Model
-Buffy the Vampire Slayer
-The Office
- Futurama
- Dawson's Creek


I tag Kate, Cambi, Jodee, Kat, Richelle and Mike

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Our Latest Obession

Lately we have been doing only one thing over and over again...

Watching Buffy.



We might be the biggest nerds on the planet. Maybe we'll even dress up like this for halloween.


Oh wait...we aren't that far gone yet. Give us a week or two and then maybe we'll dress up.

Or there's the more hardcore kids.
(if you can tell what characters they are dressed as then you are as big of a nerd as us.)


See this is the calibur of people we are now categorized with because we are Buffy fans.

The worst part is we aren't even watching it together. We started watching season four together becuase I had seen season 1, 2 and most of 3. After we finsihed that season devin decided he wanted to start at the beginning and I decided I wanted to keep going. So if you come to our house on a Friday night you might just catch a glimpse of Devin watching buffy on the comptuer while I watch it on the portable DVD player with headphones.

Don't worry we aren't bad...we just got Dawson's creek to start watching. Thats a step up. Right?


Maybe not so much.

Thursday, May 1, 2008

50 things to tell my mom

1. Happy 50th birthday!
2. You are the best mom ever.
3. We miss you.
4. My gardenia's are dying. Can you fix them?
5. We aren't as good at making dinner as you are.
6. I think you've got some competition on your backyard porch pots. Emily has been miracle growing them like a madwoman. The sunflowers are truly a forest. You'd be proud.
7. The pool is green. Make dad fix it.
8. Every time I watch Sabrina, Pride and Prejudice, or Men in Black I think of you
9. Can you talk to my future kids? If so...give them some good advice before they come down here okay?
10.We really need to make a Wal-Mart trip like we used to when we just threw tons of stuff in the cart and you bought it all.
11. You always had the best Halloween costumes. Especially your witch costumes.
12. I loved when you sewed for me. Skirts, dresses and shirts. I loved the winter formal dress you made me my junior year and that you prayed for help with it so it would be perfect.
13. I will never be as skinny as you dang it.
14. You are the prettiest mom I know with sparkley eyes that shined even more when you lost your hair.
15. You are completely selfless.
16. You will always get the most credit for how smart Annie is.
17. I think every teacher at Irving and Taylor is still in love with the tasty cinnamon rolls you made.
18. I still can't believe that you hiked Havasupai with the messed up tendons in your foot.
19. I'm excited to go to girls camp with Annie and Julia this year and hope to make it as fun as you did.
20. You were the most fun person to go on trips with.
21. Food will always equal love in our house.
22. I wish I would have inherited your green thumb that made everything blossom.
23. I miss waking up to you playing the piano on Sunday morning.
24. You always gave the best Young Women lessons, church talks, and testimonies.
25. I'm sorry I didn't plant flowers for you at Emery. I'll do better next year. I promise.
26. I'm very grateful for all of the music lesson you gave me.
27. You set the best example for me. I always remember walking in on you praying and all of the service you gave. The gifts you would anonymously give to people and the love you shared. You had charity for everyone around you.
28. I hope that you and Daniel are having fun together.
29. Thank you for buying the cabin and for always taking us camping. I always had so much fun there.
30. We all had such happy childhoods because of you.
31. Sorry for all of the stress that I caused you. I know I wasn't the easiest kid by far.
32. You were right. Devin does have kind eyes and I was lucky to find him.
33. Thank you for giving me the best wedding ever even if the chairs did make it look like an 80s prom. p.s. I am over that.
34. Thanks for escorting me through the temple. My two year endowment date is coming up.
35. You are such a strong person.
36. I love reading through your scriptures and seeing all of the versus you marked and made notes by.
37. Some of my best memories are coming home to you sitting in the rocker reading your scriptures and then talking about my night.
38. The best memories are of laying on the bed and talking to you for hours on end.
39. You have the best parents. I went over to their house a while ago and talked to them. They are so giving and your dad has the best stories to tell.
40. I wish my kids could have you as a grandma here on earth so you could give them things and tell them stories.
41. I'm so grateful for all of the cultural experiences you gave us kids at such young ages. I'm glad that at seven I knew who VanGough and Monet were.
42. You are the best cardboard painter I know and your spook alley's were always spooky.
43. You are so creative.
44. How did you get such a gooball for a daughter?
45. You are such a good dutch oven cooker and pyro. I need to know your secrets.
46. You should have written down your recipes.
47. I think you were the most fun in our family. We aren't as fun without you.
48. I loved when you would text me with your oh so fabulous texting skills.
49. Thank you for always loving me no matter what.
50. I'll always love you!