ETC: Is It International "I Lost a Bet" Day?

Now that I've marginally returned to work outside the home, I find myself out in the great big world without young Master Sam a lot more. Without him to focus my attention on, I've been really noticing my surroundings for the first time in over a year. And I don't know if I was just spectacularly unobservant before, but my little sector of the universe has gotten a fair bit weirder, fashion-wise, since I last paused to look around.

For starters, when did conference lanyards (you know, those fat shoelace-y things you use to wear your nametag around your neck) become au courant for the troubled and the elderly? I first noticed this yesterday, when I saw an elderly woman on the bus wearing one -- snappily emblazoned with the sentiment "Jesus is Lord" -- to carry her bus pass. Then, later in the same day, I saw a rocker-ish chick wearing one (sans inspirational message) to carry her keys. And a short while later, I saw a troubled-seeming middle-aged man using one, but I couldn't make out what he was carrying and it seemed imprudent to investigate.

Also seen yesterday:

1. Woman walking down the street ahead of me using a patio umbrella in lieu of a parasol to fend off the sun.
2. Smelly white guy with big dreads (commonly known as "hippies") playing bongos. Given where I live, this usually wouldn't be comment-worthy, but he was doing it on the bus. The 8:45 am bus. I support the arts and all, but that's just too damn early for bongos.
3. Otherwise normally dressed guy wearing a colourful court jester hat, complete with jingles. His demeanor indicates that he is totally unaware of his headgear.
4. The previous three individuals are almost completely obliterated from my visual memory by the sight of a woman wearing pantaloons, the ruffles of which are fluttering out from beneath those cursed "formal shorts." She is also wearing a poncho. And legwarmers. And a bicycle helmet.

Seriously, was yesterday International "I Lost a Bet" Day? I mean, as someone whose wardrobe contains only three colours, two of those colours being grey and brown, I have as much respect and admiration for the fashion forward as anyone, but is there no limit any more?

Anyway. So. Yes, I've returned to work, in a manner of speaking. It's not terribly challenging work these days, I'm afraid, so I still find myself with a fair amount of free time with which not to cook or do housework. From time to time I feel guilty about this, and when this happens, what I like to do is start another blog. This time, it's a co-effort with my main man, Rusty. It's called Vidiotbox, and the premise is this:

We all know there are a gazillion funny, weird little videos online, but unfortunately there are a pangazillion crappy videos that make it hard to find the good ones. Who has time to sort through this mess? We do! So every morning we serve up one lovingly hand-selected video for you to enjoy. No fuss, no muss. You're welcome very much.

Feel free to poke your nose in the door and check out our already burgeoning archive (if a dozen posts can be called a "burgeoning archive," which I've decided it can), including today's post, which is my new favourite music video.