Sass over at Are you Sassified? put forth a challenge. And you all know me, I can't resist a challenge.
Unless that challenge is say..... scuba diving. Claustrophobia and the fear of deep water are not positive prerequisites for scuba diving.
Actually I took a scuba lesson once, in a pool...so I guess I did even tackle THAT challenge. The results of the day were less than wonderful. Swimming around in a pool, with a heavy tank on your back, breathing under water (which is just freaky - yes, I said freaky, welcome back to 1985!)....all the while watching your mask fill with water. It was just the act of watching it slowly fill up....it scrambled my brain. Ugh!!!
Well, that was quite the tangent, eh? Back to the post.
Sass issued an alphabet challenge. She sent me a letter of the alphabet, and I have to think of 10 things starting with that letter. Oh - not just ten random things though.....oh no, that would be too easy. I need to list 10 things that I love. 10 things that make my heart go pitter patter. 10 things that...well, you get the idea.
So, here goes.....(in no particular order)...
#1 Netflix. Yep, movie rentals with no pressure to return them when "the man" says you must. I can hold onto that copy of Airplane as long as my little heart wishes. And, when I do decide to return it, I need only walk to my mailbox. No getting into my car and driving somewhere to return it. Netflix is better for the environment...."Netflix, Go Green, Movie Style." (You can't steal that. The marketing genius you just saw there belongs to me. Back off!!!)
#2 Nine O'clock. That's about the time my (boring) butt starts heading for bed. Usually to read a couple chapters of the book I'm reading, or sometimes I really stir things up and just turn off the light and go to sleep. I'm a mad woman, watch out!!!!!! She's cccrrraaazzzyyy!!!!
#3 Newfoundland. Actually, Newfoundlands. I'm talking about the dogs here folks. Those huge, black canine teddy bears. Every time I see the commercial where the rescue dog jumps out of the helicopter to make that deep sea rescue, I have to cheer him (or her) on. What the heck was that commercial selling anyway, I can never remember. Energizer batteries maybe?
#4 Nala. My cat. Actually she is Mot's cat. She hates me. When she was a kitten, she bit my eyelid. Not a pleasant experience. On a good note, she seems to be hating me less and less these days. In fact, she's sitting next to me on the couch while I type this. Because of this, I feel obligated to put her on the list. (Also, the letter N is proving more difficult than I originally thought.)
#5 Nachos. Meat, cheese, sour cream, guacamole, and maybe some beans. The more the plate actually looks like a heart attack, the better. Not only are they a salty snacker's heaven on earth, they are also a game. Nothing like the challenge of eating nachos!! Challenge you ask? Come on, you know what I mean. All the toppings are on the top 10% of chips. You have to play Jenga to get down to the bottom chips, without disturbing all the goodness on top. You have to make sure the chip-to-topping ratio stays even and fair. The best part - that one chip. The one that is so soggy with cheese and sour cream you have to bring in utensil backup.
#6 Nickels. They are a very overlooked and under appreciated form of currency. I managed a grocery store for 8 years (through high school and college), and there was this awesome old dude who would come into the store once or twice a week. He loved getting nickels back as change. No, he wasn't obsessive about it, it just brought a smile to his face. One day I asked him why. He said everybody collects pennies. You'd be hard pressed to find a house without a change jar filled with 'em. He, on the other hand, decided in his younger years to collect nickels. He assured me he had a jar of pennies collecting on his dresser as well....but he said you can collect 5x the money, in less space if you don't spend your nickels.
#7 Napkins. Eat a plate of buffalo wings, and tell me you don't admire the napkin. Eat spaghetti on a first date, and tell me the napkin isn't the best invention ever!!!
#8 Nieces and Nephews. My sister has two beautiful children, Brandon (Bug) and Lauren (Peanut). They are, quite possibly, the cutest and bestest kids ever, on the whole planet!!! (I might be a bit biased, but I think that's my job as an aunt.) Overall, the whole idea of nieces and nephews was a good one. We can spoil them to death, feed them sugar, and then return them to their parents when the noise level gets annoying. It's like having grand kids that you can spoil, only you don't have to have children of your own, and wait until you're 50 to get them. :-)
#9 NCIS. The TV show. It's not my favorite show, but I do enjoy it. I had to list it though, because it's the only TV I watch that starts with the letter N. How is that possible??? (And Abby rocks!!)
#10 Naked. I can only come up with a few examples of when naked it a bad thing. a) In your dreams - it's never a good thing. Usually involves work or school. b) Seeing naked you wished you hadn't seen. I took a water aerobics class for a couple of months, a few years ago. 90% of the women in the class were over the age of 70, and they were not shy in the locker room.
But, the list of good examples of naked are too many to type. Plus, it's just a fun word to say...naked, naked, naked.
So, there you have it. 10 things starting with the letter N. Thanks Sass!!!!!!!!!! :-) If anyone wants to make their own list, let me know, and I'll send you a letter.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Fugitive on the Run
As I'm driving to work this morning, I see a gopher......running for all he's worth across the country club grounds, and into the road. He was constantly looking back behind him the entire time.
The big dummy ran out into the road, right in front of me. Luckily, I had noticed the furry critter and had almost come to a stop, expecting him to do just what he did.
He stopped in the middle of my lane....panting. I kid you not, panting. The poor little thing was completely worn out...and was still looking back at the golf course.
Mot and I had noticed there were a TON of gopher holes on the course, while we were out for a walk last week. I'm guessing this is one of the perpetrators. :-)
One of my father's favorite movies (and mine too) is Caddyshack. As I'm staring at the little rodent in the middle of the road, I can only imagine what horrors he was trying to escape.
Sandy: I want you to kill every gophers on the golf course!
Carl: Correct me if I'm wrong Sandy, but if I kill all the golfers, they're gonna lock me up and throw away the key...
Sandy: Not golfers, you great fool! Gophers! The *little* *brown*, *furry* *rodents* -!
Carl: We can do that; we don't even have to have a reason. All right, let's do the same thing, but with gophers -!
The big dummy ran out into the road, right in front of me. Luckily, I had noticed the furry critter and had almost come to a stop, expecting him to do just what he did.
He stopped in the middle of my lane....panting. I kid you not, panting. The poor little thing was completely worn out...and was still looking back at the golf course.
Mot and I had noticed there were a TON of gopher holes on the course, while we were out for a walk last week. I'm guessing this is one of the perpetrators. :-)
One of my father's favorite movies (and mine too) is Caddyshack. As I'm staring at the little rodent in the middle of the road, I can only imagine what horrors he was trying to escape.
Sandy: I want you to kill every gophers on the golf course!
Carl: Correct me if I'm wrong Sandy, but if I kill all the golfers, they're gonna lock me up and throw away the key...
Sandy: Not golfers, you great fool! Gophers! The *little* *brown*, *furry* *rodents* -!
Carl: We can do that; we don't even have to have a reason. All right, let's do the same thing, but with gophers -!
Monday, February 9, 2009
That's what the government is for??
In local news, a child care facility was shut down for a number of state violations.
#1, the temperature was under 52 degrees. We keep our house at 63-64, and I love watching tv under a blanket or doing the laundry with a sweatshirt on. I love sweatshirts. But 52 degrees in a child care facility...that's a might bit chilly I suppose.
#2, outdated food in the fridge. I'm not sure the extent of the out-datedness, or the degree of spoiled, but who doesn't ever go through their fridge and find a tub of outdated something or other?
#3, the fire exit was blocked. Yeah, that's not good.
#4, a felon taking care of the kids. That was probably the biggy I'm guessing.
#5, cleaning products not locked up. While this isn't good, it comforting to know they actually HAD cleaning products. Owning them implies you thought about cleaning at least once.
#6, avoiding a state inspector by taking all the children to Chuck E. Cheese for the day.
On the way home, talk radio had grabbed onto story and were beating it to death. There was a statement made about parents needing to check out their child care facilities.
One caller called in and said "Parents these days are busy. That's what the government is for. They can check these places for us."
Hello?? I'm not a parent, nor do I plan on being one. But you can't just trust other people to check out the places your children are spending their days, can you??????
I'm not saying people who took their children to this facility knew they were going to avoid inspectors, they didn't go a background check on every employee, they don't check the contents of the fridge. But to make the blanket statement saying it's the government's responsibility....it makes me squirm.
#1, the temperature was under 52 degrees. We keep our house at 63-64, and I love watching tv under a blanket or doing the laundry with a sweatshirt on. I love sweatshirts. But 52 degrees in a child care facility...that's a might bit chilly I suppose.
#2, outdated food in the fridge. I'm not sure the extent of the out-datedness, or the degree of spoiled, but who doesn't ever go through their fridge and find a tub of outdated something or other?
#3, the fire exit was blocked. Yeah, that's not good.
#4, a felon taking care of the kids. That was probably the biggy I'm guessing.
#5, cleaning products not locked up. While this isn't good, it comforting to know they actually HAD cleaning products. Owning them implies you thought about cleaning at least once.
#6, avoiding a state inspector by taking all the children to Chuck E. Cheese for the day.
On the way home, talk radio had grabbed onto story and were beating it to death. There was a statement made about parents needing to check out their child care facilities.
One caller called in and said "Parents these days are busy. That's what the government is for. They can check these places for us."
Hello?? I'm not a parent, nor do I plan on being one. But you can't just trust other people to check out the places your children are spending their days, can you??????
I'm not saying people who took their children to this facility knew they were going to avoid inspectors, they didn't go a background check on every employee, they don't check the contents of the fridge. But to make the blanket statement saying it's the government's responsibility....it makes me squirm.
Weekend Update #4
I have met Satan....and her name is Pam.
This weekend was pretty packed actually. Friday night, Mot and I used our free ticket vouchers and went to the hockey game. (We split season tickets with my parents because of Mot's schedule. They take the Friday tickets and we go on Saturday. Because Mot wasn't working Friday, we thought it would be fun to go anyway.)
They lost. But, they went into overtime, and lost in the shootout. It was a good game.
Saturday, I got up the same time I do during the work week...there's something terribly wrong with that!!! Inny (my sister) and I went to the gym. First we did an hour long barbell strength class, then for some reason, we thought an hour long spin class immediately after would be a good idea. Not so much!! :-)
I went home from there, ate a little lunch, messed around the house, and then finally got ready for hockey again that night. Mot was working, so I called mom and asked if she wanted to go. It was merely a formality, she never turns down hockey tickets. The two of us decided to go to Micheal's, the Mexican restaurant right down the street from the arena. Danny and Steve were already there, so we ended up sitting with them.
They were waiting for some friends of theres to arrive, but only one couple (Val and Dee) made it to dinner. The other two were at the game....but darn it if I can't remember their names.
The game was horrible. Truly and absolutely horrible. 5 to 0. Ugh!
Between the 2nd and 3rd periods, the arena plays "Cotton Eyed Joe" and everyone (well, not everyone, but quite a few people) in the arena get up to dance. Danny and I have been saying for weeks, that were we going to go down and dance with the pep band. The band students all get up and do a little impromptu square dance session during the song every night.
So....we hurried down and danced a little with them. At first they didn't know what to think about us old-timers joining them. But, it wasn't long before they were laughing and cheering us on.
Sunday, I tried to sleep in...but it just wasn't going to happen. The opening line of my post said I met Satan. Yes, her name was Pam. Pam was the chick that taught the barbell strength class Saturday morning. I tried to get out of bed Sunday morning, and about died. Holy hell!!!!
Mot had grabbed a book when he got home from work that morning, so I hobbled out to see him. We sat around on the couch, talking and watching some TV for a little while, but it didn't last long. We showered and went out to run some errands. Actually, we just went out for Bruegger's breakfast, and then to the book store. Go figure! :-)
We came back home and puddered around the house. He was baking bread, I decided to work on a project I started quite a while ago. Scanning old pictures onto my computer. I scanned a hefty stack before I had to leave.
I had agreed to go to the gym with Inny again that night.
We made it through the yoga class alive. Neither Inny nor I were able to walk into the room correctly (thanks Pam!!), yet we still made it through the class. Between the two of us, and the dude right next to me, we giggled through half the class. He was huffing and puffing, my sister...well, with about 10 minutes left of the class, she did what everyone is afraid they'll do in a yoga class. The room is quiet, the lights are very dim, relaxing music, everyone is in pain, and she farts.
It was impressive sounding, let me just say. The poor thing, I look over at her, and her shoulders are shaking, trying not to laugh. I kept thinking to myself "I'm not three, I won't laugh. I'm not three, I won't laugh." But once I saw her shoulders shaking, I knew I was a goner. :-)
After yoga, we went down and got the kids from the child center so they could get to their swim lessons. We dropped them off and headed upstairs. If you use the recumbent bikes along the wall, you can see down into the pool. So we pedaled, watched them, and laughed at horrible TV on the screens attached to the bikes. We didn't have sound, but the show we were watching really didn't need it. It was horrible, prime time, game show TV. Ugh!!! It took our minds off the fact our legs were burning...again!
When swim class was over, we picked up the kids and headed to the racquetball court. I think we had an hour reserved, but after 30 minutes, we waved the white flag. Neither of us are great players, but we actually looked as though we'd never picked up a racket before. We weren't running (couldn't), looked like we were 80 years old when having to bend over and pick up the ball.....we were bushed.
I went home, talked to Mot a little, took another dose of Advil...then went to bed.
This weekend was pretty packed actually. Friday night, Mot and I used our free ticket vouchers and went to the hockey game. (We split season tickets with my parents because of Mot's schedule. They take the Friday tickets and we go on Saturday. Because Mot wasn't working Friday, we thought it would be fun to go anyway.)
They lost. But, they went into overtime, and lost in the shootout. It was a good game.
Saturday, I got up the same time I do during the work week...there's something terribly wrong with that!!! Inny (my sister) and I went to the gym. First we did an hour long barbell strength class, then for some reason, we thought an hour long spin class immediately after would be a good idea. Not so much!! :-)
I went home from there, ate a little lunch, messed around the house, and then finally got ready for hockey again that night. Mot was working, so I called mom and asked if she wanted to go. It was merely a formality, she never turns down hockey tickets. The two of us decided to go to Micheal's, the Mexican restaurant right down the street from the arena. Danny and Steve were already there, so we ended up sitting with them.
They were waiting for some friends of theres to arrive, but only one couple (Val and Dee) made it to dinner. The other two were at the game....but darn it if I can't remember their names.
The game was horrible. Truly and absolutely horrible. 5 to 0. Ugh!
Between the 2nd and 3rd periods, the arena plays "Cotton Eyed Joe" and everyone (well, not everyone, but quite a few people) in the arena get up to dance. Danny and I have been saying for weeks, that were we going to go down and dance with the pep band. The band students all get up and do a little impromptu square dance session during the song every night.
So....we hurried down and danced a little with them. At first they didn't know what to think about us old-timers joining them. But, it wasn't long before they were laughing and cheering us on.
Sunday, I tried to sleep in...but it just wasn't going to happen. The opening line of my post said I met Satan. Yes, her name was Pam. Pam was the chick that taught the barbell strength class Saturday morning. I tried to get out of bed Sunday morning, and about died. Holy hell!!!!
Mot had grabbed a book when he got home from work that morning, so I hobbled out to see him. We sat around on the couch, talking and watching some TV for a little while, but it didn't last long. We showered and went out to run some errands. Actually, we just went out for Bruegger's breakfast, and then to the book store. Go figure! :-)
We came back home and puddered around the house. He was baking bread, I decided to work on a project I started quite a while ago. Scanning old pictures onto my computer. I scanned a hefty stack before I had to leave.
I had agreed to go to the gym with Inny again that night.
We made it through the yoga class alive. Neither Inny nor I were able to walk into the room correctly (thanks Pam!!), yet we still made it through the class. Between the two of us, and the dude right next to me, we giggled through half the class. He was huffing and puffing, my sister...well, with about 10 minutes left of the class, she did what everyone is afraid they'll do in a yoga class. The room is quiet, the lights are very dim, relaxing music, everyone is in pain, and she farts.
It was impressive sounding, let me just say. The poor thing, I look over at her, and her shoulders are shaking, trying not to laugh. I kept thinking to myself "I'm not three, I won't laugh. I'm not three, I won't laugh." But once I saw her shoulders shaking, I knew I was a goner. :-)
After yoga, we went down and got the kids from the child center so they could get to their swim lessons. We dropped them off and headed upstairs. If you use the recumbent bikes along the wall, you can see down into the pool. So we pedaled, watched them, and laughed at horrible TV on the screens attached to the bikes. We didn't have sound, but the show we were watching really didn't need it. It was horrible, prime time, game show TV. Ugh!!! It took our minds off the fact our legs were burning...again!
When swim class was over, we picked up the kids and headed to the racquetball court. I think we had an hour reserved, but after 30 minutes, we waved the white flag. Neither of us are great players, but we actually looked as though we'd never picked up a racket before. We weren't running (couldn't), looked like we were 80 years old when having to bend over and pick up the ball.....we were bushed.
I went home, talked to Mot a little, took another dose of Advil...then went to bed.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Wag the Dog
I had no plans for lunch, and no where exciting I needed to go, to get me out of the office.....so I grabbed my book and headed for the little neighborhood park 5 or so minutes from work.
I've worked here nearly 6 years, and every single time I go to this park over lunch, a little white SUV is parked there. Every day I go. This person goes to the park over lunch and sits in their car, every day.
I don't know why I think it's strange. It's a nice little park.
But anyway......I bought a book a few weeks ago off of eBay, and it finally arrived earlier this week. A Walk in the Woods, by Bill Bryson. I've had this urge to hike the Appalachian Trail for a number of years. I find the desire gets worse and worse each winter. So, when Mel mentioned her son had read this really interesting book about some dude that walked the AT, I had to check it out. The day I ordered it Brook suggested I read the exact same book. I took it as a sign that the universe insisted I read it....and put it at the top of my must read list.
I'm sure the person in that little white SUV in the park is convinced I'm a nut. I've given them ample reasons to come to this conclusion in the 6 years we've been sharing the park. I usually have quartet sheet music and a pitch pipe, that's gotta make 'em wonder right there!! But today, I was laughing, out loud...sunroof open...laughter bellowing into the park.
I'm not all that far into book, but I'm already amused. Not many books make me laugh out loud. This guy writes as a human. As an average, every day person. He makes mistakes, he does dumb things, he's got a very dry sense of humor. He does what I wish I could accomplish. As you're reading his words, you can't help but put yourself in his shoes.
Wow - I've gotten really off topic today. Back to the title of this post...Wag the Dog. Have you seen the movie? Robert DeNiro, Dustin Hoffman. The tag line of the movie is "Why does a dog wag its tail? Because a dog is smarter than its tail. If the tail were smarter, the tail would wag the dog."
As I'm sitting in my car, laughing like a hyena...I notice a man walking his dog enter the park. They saunter over to the ball diamond, where he takes the very blond Golden Retriever off it's leash. The man stops walking, and the dog walks to the middle of the field, turns around and lays down, facing his owner. The man throws a softball out into the field, and the dog watches it, not moving.
I assume this is some sort of obedience training. Don't fetch the ball until I tell you to move. Something along those lines. The man throws another ball, in the other direction. The dog doesn't move.
Finally the man puts his hands out in a "why are you just laying there gesture" towards the dog. The dog still doesn't move. The man slumps his shoulders in a sigh, and walks to each ball...shaking his head the whole time. Once he gets both balls picked up, he walks out of the ball diamond and sits down on a bench, facing away from the field and his dog.
The dog finally stands up and walks over towards his master. The man stands up and they both leave the park together. I swear to you the dog had a look on it's face that said "see, I told you I didn't want to go to the stupid park, and fetch the stupid ball, when will you listen to me?"
No more had they walked out of eye shot, a new pair came into view. This time it was a woman and her German Shepard. These two were walking with a little more gusto than the last couple. They followed the exact same route, right into the baseball diamond. She unhooked the dog's leash, and he sat down in front of her. She threw a red Frisbee (threw is a relative term...she throws a Frisbee like me - which means horribly). The Shepard bounded out to fetch the red projectile. He picked it up and shook it violently.
Then he ran a few steps towards the woman. Stopped and shook it again. Ran up to the lady, and shook it some more. Just when I thought she was going to take it, the dog backed up about 10 feet. He shook that Frisbee one last time, and then THREW it at her. It hit the woman square in the shins.
She picked it up...and it started all over again. At the very end, he backed up ten feet and threw it at her, hitting her in the thighs.
It went like this a for quite a while...but I lost interest and went back to reading the book.
Both dogs, although having completely different personalities themselves, definitely ruled in those dog/master relationships. They wear the pants in those families, not the humans.
I've worked here nearly 6 years, and every single time I go to this park over lunch, a little white SUV is parked there. Every day I go. This person goes to the park over lunch and sits in their car, every day.
I don't know why I think it's strange. It's a nice little park.
But anyway......I bought a book a few weeks ago off of eBay, and it finally arrived earlier this week. A Walk in the Woods, by Bill Bryson. I've had this urge to hike the Appalachian Trail for a number of years. I find the desire gets worse and worse each winter. So, when Mel mentioned her son had read this really interesting book about some dude that walked the AT, I had to check it out. The day I ordered it Brook suggested I read the exact same book. I took it as a sign that the universe insisted I read it....and put it at the top of my must read list.
I'm sure the person in that little white SUV in the park is convinced I'm a nut. I've given them ample reasons to come to this conclusion in the 6 years we've been sharing the park. I usually have quartet sheet music and a pitch pipe, that's gotta make 'em wonder right there!! But today, I was laughing, out loud...sunroof open...laughter bellowing into the park.
I'm not all that far into book, but I'm already amused. Not many books make me laugh out loud. This guy writes as a human. As an average, every day person. He makes mistakes, he does dumb things, he's got a very dry sense of humor. He does what I wish I could accomplish. As you're reading his words, you can't help but put yourself in his shoes.
Wow - I've gotten really off topic today. Back to the title of this post...Wag the Dog. Have you seen the movie? Robert DeNiro, Dustin Hoffman. The tag line of the movie is "Why does a dog wag its tail? Because a dog is smarter than its tail. If the tail were smarter, the tail would wag the dog."
As I'm sitting in my car, laughing like a hyena...I notice a man walking his dog enter the park. They saunter over to the ball diamond, where he takes the very blond Golden Retriever off it's leash. The man stops walking, and the dog walks to the middle of the field, turns around and lays down, facing his owner. The man throws a softball out into the field, and the dog watches it, not moving.
I assume this is some sort of obedience training. Don't fetch the ball until I tell you to move. Something along those lines. The man throws another ball, in the other direction. The dog doesn't move.
Finally the man puts his hands out in a "why are you just laying there gesture" towards the dog. The dog still doesn't move. The man slumps his shoulders in a sigh, and walks to each ball...shaking his head the whole time. Once he gets both balls picked up, he walks out of the ball diamond and sits down on a bench, facing away from the field and his dog.
The dog finally stands up and walks over towards his master. The man stands up and they both leave the park together. I swear to you the dog had a look on it's face that said "see, I told you I didn't want to go to the stupid park, and fetch the stupid ball, when will you listen to me?"
No more had they walked out of eye shot, a new pair came into view. This time it was a woman and her German Shepard. These two were walking with a little more gusto than the last couple. They followed the exact same route, right into the baseball diamond. She unhooked the dog's leash, and he sat down in front of her. She threw a red Frisbee (threw is a relative term...she throws a Frisbee like me - which means horribly). The Shepard bounded out to fetch the red projectile. He picked it up and shook it violently.
Then he ran a few steps towards the woman. Stopped and shook it again. Ran up to the lady, and shook it some more. Just when I thought she was going to take it, the dog backed up about 10 feet. He shook that Frisbee one last time, and then THREW it at her. It hit the woman square in the shins.
She picked it up...and it started all over again. At the very end, he backed up ten feet and threw it at her, hitting her in the thighs.
It went like this a for quite a while...but I lost interest and went back to reading the book.
Both dogs, although having completely different personalities themselves, definitely ruled in those dog/master relationships. They wear the pants in those families, not the humans.
Goodwill stalker
I met my friend Lorrie for lunch yesterday. We had to push our normal lunch time back, due to her business meeting running late. By the time we got to the restaurant, it was packed...with a wait.
We opted for Taco Hell, I mean Bell, across the street instead. The choice was made merely because there's a Goodwill next door.
I'm a garage sale junkie. Love them!!! Why? I don't know. Woman no longer have to leave their homes to gather nuts and berries for their families. Maybe this is a way to fill that now unnecessary instinctual need? Is it the thrill of the hunt?
Probably not.
Mot never used to understand...until I started coming home with stuff for him. A complete set of Dewalt power tools for $40 really changed his mind.
In the winter, garage sales are few and far between...actually, they are 100% non existent. The next best thing.....thrift stores.
As I was sifting through the racks of women's jeans and skirts, looking for some yellow tag $.99 deals, a random dude walks up and says "There anything good in here?"
I'm not the kind of person to judges, so if he was looking for women's clothing, more power to him. He was dressed in normal men's attire, but you just never know.
I told him I was having some luck, and went back to what I was doing.
Whoops!!! For the next 30 minutes, the man followed me from rack to rack.
He. Never. Shut. Up.
It was crazy!! Lorrie picked up on my predicament and came over to give me an "out." Unfortunately, I was having luck and had a handful of items. I didn't want to leave the area while the getting was good...so I weighed my options, and chose to stay. She went back over to the book section, smiling the biggest grin ever.
When it was getting closer to the end of our lunch break, I looked across the store and made eye contact with her. She came back over, and helped me to help with the escape.
He was average height, average build, probably in his 50's, and could talk like no one I've ever met. He talked about the weather here, about the weather in Florida and Georgia...he talked about eBay...he talked about the benefits of making unisex sweatshirts, because you could sell them to anyone.
The guy never once took a breath. :-)
Lorrie came over, and I told the dude I had to leave, but it was nice talking to him (even though the only talking I did was a "uh huh" every once and a while).
He followed us up to the register....still talking. He stood in line behind us....still talking.
Thank goodness he had to pay for his purchases, or he'd have followed us out to my car.
It's what I get for forgetting to put on my watch and wedding band that morning!!! Being flirted with is always nice, but why is it always a guy 20-30 years older than me? It's always been that way.
In fact, now that I think about it, I'm not sure how I managed to attract the attention of Mot. He's (gasp) in my age group. They never talk to me. :-)
We opted for Taco Hell, I mean Bell, across the street instead. The choice was made merely because there's a Goodwill next door.
I'm a garage sale junkie. Love them!!! Why? I don't know. Woman no longer have to leave their homes to gather nuts and berries for their families. Maybe this is a way to fill that now unnecessary instinctual need? Is it the thrill of the hunt?
Probably not.
Mot never used to understand...until I started coming home with stuff for him. A complete set of Dewalt power tools for $40 really changed his mind.
In the winter, garage sales are few and far between...actually, they are 100% non existent. The next best thing.....thrift stores.
As I was sifting through the racks of women's jeans and skirts, looking for some yellow tag $.99 deals, a random dude walks up and says "There anything good in here?"
I'm not the kind of person to judges, so if he was looking for women's clothing, more power to him. He was dressed in normal men's attire, but you just never know.
I told him I was having some luck, and went back to what I was doing.
Whoops!!! For the next 30 minutes, the man followed me from rack to rack.
He. Never. Shut. Up.
It was crazy!! Lorrie picked up on my predicament and came over to give me an "out." Unfortunately, I was having luck and had a handful of items. I didn't want to leave the area while the getting was good...so I weighed my options, and chose to stay. She went back over to the book section, smiling the biggest grin ever.
When it was getting closer to the end of our lunch break, I looked across the store and made eye contact with her. She came back over, and helped me to help with the escape.
He was average height, average build, probably in his 50's, and could talk like no one I've ever met. He talked about the weather here, about the weather in Florida and Georgia...he talked about eBay...he talked about the benefits of making unisex sweatshirts, because you could sell them to anyone.
The guy never once took a breath. :-)
Lorrie came over, and I told the dude I had to leave, but it was nice talking to him (even though the only talking I did was a "uh huh" every once and a while).
He followed us up to the register....still talking. He stood in line behind us....still talking.
Thank goodness he had to pay for his purchases, or he'd have followed us out to my car.
It's what I get for forgetting to put on my watch and wedding band that morning!!! Being flirted with is always nice, but why is it always a guy 20-30 years older than me? It's always been that way.
In fact, now that I think about it, I'm not sure how I managed to attract the attention of Mot. He's (gasp) in my age group. They never talk to me. :-)
Happy Frickin' Friday
Robin, co worker and friend, says this nearly every Friday morning.
Fridays are bitter sweet around here.
I mean, it's Friday, last day of the work week, we don't have to come in tomorrow....yeah, woohoo, yippee, and all that crap. :-)
But, at the same time, it's freak-out day!!! Shipments have issues, molds go down, suppliers fail to deliver necessary components.
Today is basically just another Friday....with one big difference.
It's going to be in the 50's...sunny...and we're all stuck inside.
Torture, pure torture!!! :-)
Fridays are bitter sweet around here.
I mean, it's Friday, last day of the work week, we don't have to come in tomorrow....yeah, woohoo, yippee, and all that crap. :-)
But, at the same time, it's freak-out day!!! Shipments have issues, molds go down, suppliers fail to deliver necessary components.
Today is basically just another Friday....with one big difference.
It's going to be in the 50's...sunny...and we're all stuck inside.
Torture, pure torture!!! :-)
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Waaaay Back When-sday, Episode 4
Well, well, well......I think this is my 200th post. That's pure craziness if you ask me!!!! And, since I didn't celebrate my 100th, I feel obligated to point out and make note of the 200th.
Yeah me!
OK, enough of that crap, on with the show.
Every week I post a story from my past. Or my way back, if you will.
This week......
Fourth Grade
I was a shy kid. Beyond shy actually. My teacher would send home notes with the students for our parents. "Your kid won't shut up." "Your kid won't do his/her homework." "Your kid spit on a lunch lady."
That kind of stuff.
My teacher sent home this note..."Your kid hasn't talked in months."
Heck, to be honest with you, I'm surprised she noticed. I was a master in the art of wallflower. I was a 4th grade ninja stealth warrior. (that might be stretching it a little)
Anyway, I was quiet and shy. I had a small handful of friends, we were renegades. The weird ones nobody would talk to.
One thought she was a horse...no kidding. She would spend recess galloping and whinnying (sp?) around the playground.
One wanted to be the leader of a rock band, but a rock band without musical instruments. She had no intention of starting a band, just wanted to say we were one.
My strangeness was how shy I was. I wasn't the kid that pee'd her pants, that got head lice, or the one that acted like a horse...I was just quiet. No one knew what to make of me.
Because of this, I was bullied. By the girls. Not the guys, they thought I was cool. But the girls hated me. (Probably because the boys didn't, now that I think about it. )
I did have one normal non horse, rock band leader friend. We didn't hang out after school or on the weekends, just at recess. But we talked, we played, we did what 4th grade girls do.
One day, out of the blue, this friend hated me. When we said goodbye the night before, all was well. But the next day...hatred spewed from her eyes.
I was hurt, and I couldn't explain the behavior. It's not like I talked about her behind her back..heck, I barely talked at all. I figured it would blow over, or she'd eventually tell me what was bugging her.
I was wrong.
The following day she walked up to me, with two other girls from our class. One scared the crap out of me, she was cool, dressed well, didn't care what people thought of her...she was what I wanted to be. So I guess in 4th grade, that's scary?? The other was a girl I'd only seen once or twice before. We weren't in the same class, didn't ride the bus together. I don't think I even knew her name.
When the three of them walked up to me, I was sitting on the bike rack, minding my own business (= hiding from the world). Jamie (my ex friend) and Sarah (the scary one) on each side of Rachel (the one I didn't know). I thought it odd that Rachel's eyes were closed....I thought it odd that the other two seemed to be leading her around like she was blind.
I thought it odd when they walked up to me smiling. And I really thought it odd when Jamie took Rachel's fist and hit me in the face with it.
Yep, you heard me right. They led Rachel's first, while her eyes were closed, into my face.
I just stood there. I didn't know what to say or what to do. I put my hand up to my mouth and nose, and came back with a hand full of blood.
Rachel opened her eyes to see what she'd made contact with. I hadn't let out a sound, so I can only imagine what she thought she hit. I could tell she definitely didn't expect it to be a human face. :-)
The three of them ran. Probably had something to do with the look I was giving them. Mot can tell you what that look is. I've been told it will turn a person's blood to ice, and make them pee their pants. But, neither has ever happened, so it's unconfirmed.
I started walking towards the 4th grade door, when the bell rang. Recess over. I stood in line with the rest of my classmates. No one noticed the blood flowing freely from my face. Heck, they probably didn't even know I was there in the middle of them. (Ninja stealth master, I swear!)
The doors opened, and children filed away to their classes. I walked to the end of the hall, and started to clean myself up at the sink.
The teacher that sent the note home to mom must have noticed I wasn't in class, because she came out into the hall looking for me. She took me under her wing for the rest of the year. I guess I became her pet project.
She was unhappy to say the least. "Who did this?" (notice she didn't ask what happened)
"Some girls, it was an accident, I'm OK." My acting skills were less than swell, and she didn't believe me, but didn't ask for more information.
After lunch, I wandered out towards the tennis courts. It was as far away from the building as I could get, without technically being off school grounds. I was only there a few minutes before I noticed Rachel coming my way. All I could think to myself was, "Man, I hope she tries to hit me again! I'm in the mood."
She didn't try to hit me, she tried to befriend me. She apologized for what happened, and swore she didn't know what they were doing. She told me the three of them had been taken out of the lunch room, and to the Principal's office. Jamie and Sarah confirmed she had nothing to do with it, and they let her go. (I can only assume someone saw what happened, and let Mrs. Smith know. Either that, or she was with the CIA. Hey..I had the imagination of a 4th grader, what can I say!!)
We talked for five minutes or so, then the bell rang and recess was over.
I didn't talk to her again during the remaining months of school.
Two days before 5th grade started, my mom handed me the telephone. "It's a friend of yours."
It was Rachel. She wanted to know what classes and teachers I had. We talked for quite a while about moving up to the junior high building, and what 5th grade was going to throw at us. For the next 4 years, we were inseparable. If I wasn't at her house, she was at mine. We took karate together, we played sports together, spent the summers at her grandparent's lake house every year.....the works.
She moved to Omaha in 9th grade, and we talked a little here and there. But the friendship faded with the distance put between us by her parents moving. After high school, she got married, then divorced, then married again (to a good guy in the Coast Guard) and moved even further away.
What a strange friendship. It all started with a punch in the face. Huh.
Yeah me!
OK, enough of that crap, on with the show.
Every week I post a story from my past. Or my way back, if you will.
This week......
Fourth Grade
I was a shy kid. Beyond shy actually. My teacher would send home notes with the students for our parents. "Your kid won't shut up." "Your kid won't do his/her homework." "Your kid spit on a lunch lady."
That kind of stuff.
My teacher sent home this note..."Your kid hasn't talked in months."
Heck, to be honest with you, I'm surprised she noticed. I was a master in the art of wallflower. I was a 4th grade ninja stealth warrior. (that might be stretching it a little)
Anyway, I was quiet and shy. I had a small handful of friends, we were renegades. The weird ones nobody would talk to.
One thought she was a horse...no kidding. She would spend recess galloping and whinnying (sp?) around the playground.
One wanted to be the leader of a rock band, but a rock band without musical instruments. She had no intention of starting a band, just wanted to say we were one.
My strangeness was how shy I was. I wasn't the kid that pee'd her pants, that got head lice, or the one that acted like a horse...I was just quiet. No one knew what to make of me.
Because of this, I was bullied. By the girls. Not the guys, they thought I was cool. But the girls hated me. (Probably because the boys didn't, now that I think about it. )
I did have one normal non horse, rock band leader friend. We didn't hang out after school or on the weekends, just at recess. But we talked, we played, we did what 4th grade girls do.
One day, out of the blue, this friend hated me. When we said goodbye the night before, all was well. But the next day...hatred spewed from her eyes.
I was hurt, and I couldn't explain the behavior. It's not like I talked about her behind her back..heck, I barely talked at all. I figured it would blow over, or she'd eventually tell me what was bugging her.
I was wrong.
The following day she walked up to me, with two other girls from our class. One scared the crap out of me, she was cool, dressed well, didn't care what people thought of her...she was what I wanted to be. So I guess in 4th grade, that's scary?? The other was a girl I'd only seen once or twice before. We weren't in the same class, didn't ride the bus together. I don't think I even knew her name.
When the three of them walked up to me, I was sitting on the bike rack, minding my own business (= hiding from the world). Jamie (my ex friend) and Sarah (the scary one) on each side of Rachel (the one I didn't know). I thought it odd that Rachel's eyes were closed....I thought it odd that the other two seemed to be leading her around like she was blind.
I thought it odd when they walked up to me smiling. And I really thought it odd when Jamie took Rachel's fist and hit me in the face with it.
Yep, you heard me right. They led Rachel's first, while her eyes were closed, into my face.
I just stood there. I didn't know what to say or what to do. I put my hand up to my mouth and nose, and came back with a hand full of blood.
Rachel opened her eyes to see what she'd made contact with. I hadn't let out a sound, so I can only imagine what she thought she hit. I could tell she definitely didn't expect it to be a human face. :-)
The three of them ran. Probably had something to do with the look I was giving them. Mot can tell you what that look is. I've been told it will turn a person's blood to ice, and make them pee their pants. But, neither has ever happened, so it's unconfirmed.
I started walking towards the 4th grade door, when the bell rang. Recess over. I stood in line with the rest of my classmates. No one noticed the blood flowing freely from my face. Heck, they probably didn't even know I was there in the middle of them. (Ninja stealth master, I swear!)
The doors opened, and children filed away to their classes. I walked to the end of the hall, and started to clean myself up at the sink.
The teacher that sent the note home to mom must have noticed I wasn't in class, because she came out into the hall looking for me. She took me under her wing for the rest of the year. I guess I became her pet project.
She was unhappy to say the least. "Who did this?" (notice she didn't ask what happened)
"Some girls, it was an accident, I'm OK." My acting skills were less than swell, and she didn't believe me, but didn't ask for more information.
After lunch, I wandered out towards the tennis courts. It was as far away from the building as I could get, without technically being off school grounds. I was only there a few minutes before I noticed Rachel coming my way. All I could think to myself was, "Man, I hope she tries to hit me again! I'm in the mood."
She didn't try to hit me, she tried to befriend me. She apologized for what happened, and swore she didn't know what they were doing. She told me the three of them had been taken out of the lunch room, and to the Principal's office. Jamie and Sarah confirmed she had nothing to do with it, and they let her go. (I can only assume someone saw what happened, and let Mrs. Smith know. Either that, or she was with the CIA. Hey..I had the imagination of a 4th grader, what can I say!!)
We talked for five minutes or so, then the bell rang and recess was over.
I didn't talk to her again during the remaining months of school.
Two days before 5th grade started, my mom handed me the telephone. "It's a friend of yours."
It was Rachel. She wanted to know what classes and teachers I had. We talked for quite a while about moving up to the junior high building, and what 5th grade was going to throw at us. For the next 4 years, we were inseparable. If I wasn't at her house, she was at mine. We took karate together, we played sports together, spent the summers at her grandparent's lake house every year.....the works.
She moved to Omaha in 9th grade, and we talked a little here and there. But the friendship faded with the distance put between us by her parents moving. After high school, she got married, then divorced, then married again (to a good guy in the Coast Guard) and moved even further away.
What a strange friendship. It all started with a punch in the face. Huh.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge
Saturday afternoon, after trying to hike in the hills and finding they were nothing but muck and mush, we tried to find something else to occupy our time...something that was active and didn't involve sitting in front of a computer or TV.
On our way back into Nebraska (the hiking in Iowa is much better), we saw the new pedestrian bridge to the North. Well heck, we hadn't walked across it yet...so why not?!?!?
Downtown Omaha is off to the left in this pic. I didn't notice, until I was looking at the picture this morning, that the bridge appears to be the bridge to nowhere in this photo. The Omaha metro area population is 1 million plus....there's a city at the end of it...I swear!! :-)
We parked on the Iowa side. The bridge is pretty nice actually, very simple in it's design. Smooth, clean lines.
I couldn't believe the number of people using it. Bikes, walking, running, with pets, with strollers.
This photo is looking up at one of the two 200 foot tall towers. I'm sure there's a more proper bridge type name for them...but I'm not an engineer, architect or design student...so for now, I'll call them towers. :-)
This is the view in the opposite direction, walking back to our car. Because it's winter, the river level is pretty low.
On our way back into Nebraska (the hiking in Iowa is much better), we saw the new pedestrian bridge to the North. Well heck, we hadn't walked across it yet...so why not?!?!?
Downtown Omaha is off to the left in this pic. I didn't notice, until I was looking at the picture this morning, that the bridge appears to be the bridge to nowhere in this photo. The Omaha metro area population is 1 million plus....there's a city at the end of it...I swear!! :-)
We parked on the Iowa side. The bridge is pretty nice actually, very simple in it's design. Smooth, clean lines.
I couldn't believe the number of people using it. Bikes, walking, running, with pets, with strollers.
This photo is looking up at one of the two 200 foot tall towers. I'm sure there's a more proper bridge type name for them...but I'm not an engineer, architect or design student...so for now, I'll call them towers. :-)
This is the view in the opposite direction, walking back to our car. Because it's winter, the river level is pretty low.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Talent
You see videos circulating the email and blog circuit all the time. Amazing children, doing crazy things. I'm always drawn towards the ones that have something to do with musical talent.
There is always controversy, over the training and time these children have to put into these kinds of performances. Doubts about whether or not the training is good for them in the long run. Will they end up blowing their voices at a young age? I know that it doesn't have to be the case.
So, when I see these things, I always think the best. I hope they receive the correct training...and I hope they are allowed to live their lives as children. I hope they enjoy doing it, and aren't forced into it by parents living vicariously through them. I know it's not always the case.
I mean, how can you not appreciate these wonderful voices?? :-) :-)
There is always controversy, over the training and time these children have to put into these kinds of performances. Doubts about whether or not the training is good for them in the long run. Will they end up blowing their voices at a young age? I know that it doesn't have to be the case.
So, when I see these things, I always think the best. I hope they receive the correct training...and I hope they are allowed to live their lives as children. I hope they enjoy doing it, and aren't forced into it by parents living vicariously through them. I know it's not always the case.
I mean, how can you not appreciate these wonderful voices?? :-) :-)
Weekend Update #3
Another weekend has come and gone. Monday morning slapped me in the face as my alarm starting screaming at 5:36. Persistent thing! :-)
Friday night was great. I went straight home from work, changed clothes...then the two of us headed to Danny and Steve's place for a night of card playing. All four of us were excited to find out we all knew how to play a card game, that we didn't know anyone else knew how to play. There were a few small rule differences, and we played the games both ways...for scientific reasons of course. :-)
Us - Progressive Rummy
Them - International Rummy
Same basic rules, only a couple of small differences.
They also taught me how to play pinochle. Let me say, learning to play cards with them is SOOOOO much more fun than learning a card game from Mot's side of the family. Danny and Steve understand it's just a game....Mot's family think it's like or death. :-)
They introduced me to Meyer's Rum and Pineapple Juice. I'm not a pineapple juice fan, but I ended up finishing off their bottle of rum, and the can of juice. Yummy!
Danny taught Mot the finer points of cream sauces, while making a mushroom sauce and penne pasta. Steve grilled some wonderful pork (the secret was in the marinade). I can't stand mushrooms, but cleaned my plate and then some. Quite tasty!!!!
We played cards (and about 30 minutes of MarioKart on the Wii) until nearly 3:00 am. Great night!!!!! The four of us are contemplating a trip to Dublin, Ireland in March, or maybe just an extended long weekend in New Orleans. They lived there for a number of years, and could give us quite the tour. :-)
Morgan (our youngest - cat) woke me up at 7:00 Saturday am, insistent I feed her....but Mot was able to sleep until about 10:00 (lucky dog). We showered, dressed and headed out for the day. First stop, Mo. Valley to visit some friends of ours (they own a gun shop - and Mot hadn't been in for a while). After that, we drove into the Loess Hills to do some hiking. We ended up not hiking - as it was 1 foot thick mud and muck. The 50 degree day and melting snow were to blame.
So, instead of hiking, we hit every bike shop in Omaha. We found our new bikes (need to save our pennies), and started looking for gear as well. Yep, Mot is completely on board with the bike trip out East that I'd like to do!!! In fact, the more I told him about it, the more excited he was. Yeah!!!!!!!!
It's a 335 mile trail from Washington DC to Pittsburgh. The trail follows the Great Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal. We'll load up our camping gear, and head out for the week of riding. Should be a blast!!!!!!
From there, we hit a bookstore, then met our old bowling partners for dinner. We hadn't seen them in 5-6 years. It's amazing how life can get away from you, isn't it???? We got home about 9:00 and hit the sack.
Sunday am, Mot got up to feed the cats and I laid in bed for a while. We had both declared Sunday "lazy day." I put on the comfiest clothes I could find (which usually means the most unattractive - the two go hand in hand), and laid on the couch all day watching DVR'd episodes of House. (ALL DAY LONG!!)
At one point, we did put on normal clothes and head to the grocery store. (Meyers Rum and pineapple juice in our cart, of course!) Then came back home, put the comfy clothes back on, and resumed my place on the couch.
Mot spent the day with his new hobby, baking bread. He made a rockin' chiabata....and a not so good wheat. The wheat had a good consistency, but little to no flavor. Now it's a mission, he can't let the wheat bread win. :-)
I decided to do our taxes while watching House....multi-tasking at it's finest!!!!
At about 9:00, I drug myself into the bedroom to read. I don't remember Mot coming to bed....I was OUT!!! :-)
Friday night was great. I went straight home from work, changed clothes...then the two of us headed to Danny and Steve's place for a night of card playing. All four of us were excited to find out we all knew how to play a card game, that we didn't know anyone else knew how to play. There were a few small rule differences, and we played the games both ways...for scientific reasons of course. :-)
Us - Progressive Rummy
Them - International Rummy
Same basic rules, only a couple of small differences.
They also taught me how to play pinochle. Let me say, learning to play cards with them is SOOOOO much more fun than learning a card game from Mot's side of the family. Danny and Steve understand it's just a game....Mot's family think it's like or death. :-)
They introduced me to Meyer's Rum and Pineapple Juice. I'm not a pineapple juice fan, but I ended up finishing off their bottle of rum, and the can of juice. Yummy!
Danny taught Mot the finer points of cream sauces, while making a mushroom sauce and penne pasta. Steve grilled some wonderful pork (the secret was in the marinade). I can't stand mushrooms, but cleaned my plate and then some. Quite tasty!!!!
We played cards (and about 30 minutes of MarioKart on the Wii) until nearly 3:00 am. Great night!!!!! The four of us are contemplating a trip to Dublin, Ireland in March, or maybe just an extended long weekend in New Orleans. They lived there for a number of years, and could give us quite the tour. :-)
Morgan (our youngest - cat) woke me up at 7:00 Saturday am, insistent I feed her....but Mot was able to sleep until about 10:00 (lucky dog). We showered, dressed and headed out for the day. First stop, Mo. Valley to visit some friends of ours (they own a gun shop - and Mot hadn't been in for a while). After that, we drove into the Loess Hills to do some hiking. We ended up not hiking - as it was 1 foot thick mud and muck. The 50 degree day and melting snow were to blame.
So, instead of hiking, we hit every bike shop in Omaha. We found our new bikes (need to save our pennies), and started looking for gear as well. Yep, Mot is completely on board with the bike trip out East that I'd like to do!!! In fact, the more I told him about it, the more excited he was. Yeah!!!!!!!!
It's a 335 mile trail from Washington DC to Pittsburgh. The trail follows the Great Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal. We'll load up our camping gear, and head out for the week of riding. Should be a blast!!!!!!
From there, we hit a bookstore, then met our old bowling partners for dinner. We hadn't seen them in 5-6 years. It's amazing how life can get away from you, isn't it???? We got home about 9:00 and hit the sack.
Sunday am, Mot got up to feed the cats and I laid in bed for a while. We had both declared Sunday "lazy day." I put on the comfiest clothes I could find (which usually means the most unattractive - the two go hand in hand), and laid on the couch all day watching DVR'd episodes of House. (ALL DAY LONG!!)
At one point, we did put on normal clothes and head to the grocery store. (Meyers Rum and pineapple juice in our cart, of course!) Then came back home, put the comfy clothes back on, and resumed my place on the couch.
Mot spent the day with his new hobby, baking bread. He made a rockin' chiabata....and a not so good wheat. The wheat had a good consistency, but little to no flavor. Now it's a mission, he can't let the wheat bread win. :-)
I decided to do our taxes while watching House....multi-tasking at it's finest!!!!
At about 9:00, I drug myself into the bedroom to read. I don't remember Mot coming to bed....I was OUT!!! :-)
Friday, January 30, 2009
I'm speechless.....
In December, a Flybe Airline flight from Cardiff, Wales, was preparing to land as scheduled at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris when the pilot announced that they had to return to Cardiff because, he said, "Unfortunately, I'm not qualified to land the plane in Paris." Because of the heavy fog, the plane would have to be instrument-landed, and the pilot had not yet completed certification. [USA Today-Metro (London), 12-18-08]
Maybe it's just me, but I prefer my pilots to be certified for all circumstances that may arise while they are piloting my plane.
I understand there are always things you can't be prepared for....but fog?
Maybe it's just me, but I prefer my pilots to be certified for all circumstances that may arise while they are piloting my plane.
I understand there are always things you can't be prepared for....but fog?
I found it, I found it!!!!!!
My watch...it was gone....but now it's back. I opened up my jewelry box this morning, and there was my watch. Just staring me in the face.
I'm in that jewelry box almost every day!
EVERY DAY!!!
It was possible my cat stole the watch, but it's not possible she put it back.
I'm in that jewelry box almost every day!
EVERY DAY!!!
It was possible my cat stole the watch, but it's not possible she put it back.
What do you do.....
.....when you are married to a guy that got to experience things when he was young, and you didn't?
How do you go out and do things, when he doesn't want to go along? How do you handle wanting to try new things, and step outside the box...when it's a box he's been outside of already and doesn't want to go?
How do you explain to him you want to go on a vacation that might be more work than vacation?
How do you verbalize the need to do something you feel would be an accomplishment?
Something you want to do so you can say "I did that." Something you can experience that not everyone gets (or wants) to do. Something that wasn't easy, something that wasn't going to be 100% pleasant the entire time.
Something that sounds like fun to you. But once you do it, and find it wasn't fun....you can at least you can say "I tried that."
What if you really don't mind if he doesn't want to go, because you know not everyone wants to do the same things you do. You understand it might not be his thing. But don't want to fall into the separate vacation trap.
How do you tell him you wished he was just a little excited about your excitement? How do you tell him it frustrates you when he comes up with all the reasons your idea isn't going to work, or is going to be too expensive...but if it's his plan, he emails you links, he talks about it constantly - price be damned.
Why is it if it's his dream, what he wants....you can make it work.....but if it's what you want to do, he points out how it's going to be expensive and not fun?
How can you compete with the rush of skydiving?
The thrill of riding a superbike?
How can you possibly compete with the idea of a new puppy???
How do you tell him when even though he may say he's supportive, he has a really strange way of showing it?
How do you remind him that you have (more than once) spent a week of vacation doing something you would rather dig your eyeballs out with a spoon, than do?
Do you use your "it's my turn" card and go on a vacation where he'll be miserable and grouchy?
Or do you say "Fine, stay home, I'll go."?
Photo found online @ http://www.publishersweekly.com/blog/860000286/post/570022857.html
How do you go out and do things, when he doesn't want to go along? How do you handle wanting to try new things, and step outside the box...when it's a box he's been outside of already and doesn't want to go?
How do you explain to him you want to go on a vacation that might be more work than vacation?
How do you verbalize the need to do something you feel would be an accomplishment?
Something you want to do so you can say "I did that." Something you can experience that not everyone gets (or wants) to do. Something that wasn't easy, something that wasn't going to be 100% pleasant the entire time.
Something that sounds like fun to you. But once you do it, and find it wasn't fun....you can at least you can say "I tried that."
What if you really don't mind if he doesn't want to go, because you know not everyone wants to do the same things you do. You understand it might not be his thing. But don't want to fall into the separate vacation trap.
How do you tell him you wished he was just a little excited about your excitement? How do you tell him it frustrates you when he comes up with all the reasons your idea isn't going to work, or is going to be too expensive...but if it's his plan, he emails you links, he talks about it constantly - price be damned.
Why is it if it's his dream, what he wants....you can make it work.....but if it's what you want to do, he points out how it's going to be expensive and not fun?
How can you compete with the rush of skydiving?
The thrill of riding a superbike?
How can you possibly compete with the idea of a new puppy???
How do you tell him when even though he may say he's supportive, he has a really strange way of showing it?
How do you remind him that you have (more than once) spent a week of vacation doing something you would rather dig your eyeballs out with a spoon, than do?
Do you use your "it's my turn" card and go on a vacation where he'll be miserable and grouchy?
Or do you say "Fine, stay home, I'll go."?
Photo found online @ http://www.publishersweekly.com/blog/860000286/post/570022857.html
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Ka-Bong!!!
When I was a kid, my dad and I would bump foreheads (lightly) and say "Ka-Bong." It was something that started when I was really, really young.
"Ka-bong" is the first thing I thought of when Mot sent me this news story and video.
WELLINGTON, New Zealand - Two prisoners in New Zealand are facing more charges, and major embarrassment over an escape attempt gone bad.
"Ka-bong" is the first thing I thought of when Mot sent me this news story and video.
WELLINGTON, New Zealand - Two prisoners in New Zealand are facing more charges, and major embarrassment over an escape attempt gone bad.
The men were handcuffed together as they fled a courthouse, but apparently forgot that little fact as they ran to opposite sides of a light pole, with predictable results. The men slammed into each other and fell to the ground. End of escape.
Jailers nabbed them as they struggled to their feet.
Location, location, location...
Torvald Alexander, 39, was able to chase away the unlucky home invader who hit his apartment on Dec. 31 in Edinburgh, Scotland, according to a BBC News report. The two men inadvertently came face to face just as Alexander was preparing to leave for a New Year's party, dressed in full regalia as Thor, the hammer-wielding Norse god of thunder. Alexander said the burglar took one look at him, turned and climbed hurriedly out a window, sliding down a sloped roof and landing on the ground, where he took off running. [BBC News, 1-2-09]
It's dark anyway.....
When the power goes out.....it wakes me up. My eyes were closed so it couldn't be the lack of light from my alarm clock. Last night, it was our carbon monoxide detector. For some reason, it had to beep, to announce the lack of power. I'm guessing this is a safety system....Hey! I have no power, I can't tell you if you're going to die. Please put batteries in me!!!
One way to get Mot fired from his job is being late. The fire department frowns upon it. (They also frown upon selling drugs from the parking lot, and stuff like that....but I'm talking about non felonies.) So, I had to wake Mot up at 2:00 this morning so he could go get his cell phone and set the alarm.
Have you ever noticed how darn bright cell phones are in the dark? You can read a book by the light those 2x2 inch screens!! :-)
I, on the other hand, didn't really care if I was late for work. When the electricity gods hand you a valid reason for being late, you should take the opportunity and run with it!! So I snuggled back into the blankets and fell asleep.
Sort of.
I was sleeping, I didn't need light.....the furnace gets turned down anyway.....we have nobody living on a ventilator. But for some reason, my body still wouldn't let me sleep. A deep relaxing REM sleep that is.
Why did the power go out? Was it just our house? Will the pipes freeze? Do I need to get ice for the freezer to keep that deer meat cold and from spoiling? Blah, blah, blah.
Just when my brain finally shut down...BEEP. The carbon monoxide detector again! This time, a beep every 10 seconds or so. Why? To let us know that the power was back on, of course!!!
Ugh.
I'm going to have to have a talk with that thing when I get home. :-)
One way to get Mot fired from his job is being late. The fire department frowns upon it. (They also frown upon selling drugs from the parking lot, and stuff like that....but I'm talking about non felonies.) So, I had to wake Mot up at 2:00 this morning so he could go get his cell phone and set the alarm.
Have you ever noticed how darn bright cell phones are in the dark? You can read a book by the light those 2x2 inch screens!! :-)
I, on the other hand, didn't really care if I was late for work. When the electricity gods hand you a valid reason for being late, you should take the opportunity and run with it!! So I snuggled back into the blankets and fell asleep.
Sort of.
I was sleeping, I didn't need light.....the furnace gets turned down anyway.....we have nobody living on a ventilator. But for some reason, my body still wouldn't let me sleep. A deep relaxing REM sleep that is.
Why did the power go out? Was it just our house? Will the pipes freeze? Do I need to get ice for the freezer to keep that deer meat cold and from spoiling? Blah, blah, blah.
Just when my brain finally shut down...BEEP. The carbon monoxide detector again! This time, a beep every 10 seconds or so. Why? To let us know that the power was back on, of course!!!
Ugh.
I'm going to have to have a talk with that thing when I get home. :-)
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Communication breakdown (updated)
How, may I ask, do you convince your husband that communication via methods that require typing is the best option for you when you're at work?
Messenger, email, something other than a phone. Because everyone in the friggin' state can hear my when I'm on my phone at my desk??? It carries down the hallway, it carries into other offices.......but typing, that's silent. (well, except for the clicking) I can talk to him all day long, as long as it involves typing.
Maybe the issue is that he really doesn't want to talk to me? I hadn't thought of it that way until now. Hmmmm......
He, on the other hand, wants me to call him....so he can still not speak. And, in the case of today, be an ass. Either option is not attractive to me.
I'm crazy, I know!!!
My treadmill died. Dead, dead, dead. But it was a sudden aneurysm or stroke....no grueling heart attack or flesh eating disease that takes days. No, one minute running...next minute - not running. Wham!!!!
I've mentioned it daily since the day of death.....and Mot doesn't seem to understand the urgency. I don't think he knows how often I use it. He said it might be a fuse, and would look at it. When I talked to him today, I asked if there was a bunch of hair inside. He didn't know...didn't take it apart. "You didn't?" I asked. "No, but I will."
Really? You've had two full days off at home, when you could....and you haven't. When are you going to do it? I know you had to work yesterday, but so did I. But I still get to come home and go grocery shopping. Instead of spending my whopping 2 hours of home time at home...I get to go to the store. Because he didn't want to put socks on and get dog food....while he was home...all day today!!!
I love him dearly, but some days, I just can't take it. I took out the garbage, emptied the dishwasher and filled it back up. Did a load of laundry and picked up the living room. All this morning. He doesn't want to drive to the pet store (right up the street from our house) to get dog food because he doesn't want to put socks on!!!!!!!!
(banging my head on my desk)
He'll read this some day and be mad at me. It's how it works. I make a good point, and he gets mad. But damn!!!!
(Hi Honey!!!! Love you! Kiss Kiss!)
There were two things on his honey do list today. The list that he asks I give him, because he can't tell when things need done by walking around the house...he needs a list. I've been assured it's a male thing, so I leave a list.
Today's list.
* Put new batteries in thermostat. (I tried, and can't get the &%*#& cover off.)
I purposefully didn't take the thermostat off it's schedule this morning...so at about 9:00, the temp will go down to 55. I set it this way so the furnace isn't running all day while I'm at work. On mornings when he's going to be home, I try to remember to take it off schedule so he doesn't freeze. Today, I didn't change it, thinking that eventually he'll get cold and need to turn it up. And, while turning it up, notice that it's flashing Low Battery.
But, I still put it on the list...because I've learned not to assume anything.
** Look at treadmill.
I realize the error of my list. I should have written "Look IN treadmill." Silly me!!!!!
I'm a slave driver, aren't I???
You know, these blogs are kinda nice for the venting of frustrations, aren't they? I already feel better!!!!! Thanks!
** Update: He's called me, after I hung up on him. Treadmill is running, thermostat batteries are replaced. I'll leave the post up...it's kinda funny. :-)
*** Additional update: My hubby is wonderful. He cooks dinner almost every night he's home. He helps clean the house up if I ask. He tries to make me laugh when I'm down. He's not a slacker in any way, shape or form. I, on the other hand, am female. So I think like a female. Men seem to run on a different clock and schedule than women. Agreed? What I may think is a big deal, is small time to him. It's probably not fair that I complain about it. But - complaining about here keeps me from starting an argument that really doesn't needed started. In marriage, 90% of the arguments you have are over the dumbest, smallest, most insignificant things.
For example, our sink has two sides. If we put the dirty dishes on one side, the other is left open...so I don't have to move all kinds of dirty dishes to use it. Mot doesn't understand my logic. "What happens when we get a sink with one tub, not two?" My thought is that we'll deal with it when that day comes. He wants to start practicing now. :-)
Messenger, email, something other than a phone. Because everyone in the friggin' state can hear my when I'm on my phone at my desk??? It carries down the hallway, it carries into other offices.......but typing, that's silent. (well, except for the clicking) I can talk to him all day long, as long as it involves typing.
Maybe the issue is that he really doesn't want to talk to me? I hadn't thought of it that way until now. Hmmmm......
He, on the other hand, wants me to call him....so he can still not speak. And, in the case of today, be an ass. Either option is not attractive to me.
I'm crazy, I know!!!
My treadmill died. Dead, dead, dead. But it was a sudden aneurysm or stroke....no grueling heart attack or flesh eating disease that takes days. No, one minute running...next minute - not running. Wham!!!!
I've mentioned it daily since the day of death.....and Mot doesn't seem to understand the urgency. I don't think he knows how often I use it. He said it might be a fuse, and would look at it. When I talked to him today, I asked if there was a bunch of hair inside. He didn't know...didn't take it apart. "You didn't?" I asked. "No, but I will."
Really? You've had two full days off at home, when you could....and you haven't. When are you going to do it? I know you had to work yesterday, but so did I. But I still get to come home and go grocery shopping. Instead of spending my whopping 2 hours of home time at home...I get to go to the store. Because he didn't want to put socks on and get dog food....while he was home...all day today!!!
I love him dearly, but some days, I just can't take it. I took out the garbage, emptied the dishwasher and filled it back up. Did a load of laundry and picked up the living room. All this morning. He doesn't want to drive to the pet store (right up the street from our house) to get dog food because he doesn't want to put socks on!!!!!!!!
(banging my head on my desk)
He'll read this some day and be mad at me. It's how it works. I make a good point, and he gets mad. But damn!!!!
(Hi Honey!!!! Love you! Kiss Kiss!)
There were two things on his honey do list today. The list that he asks I give him, because he can't tell when things need done by walking around the house...he needs a list. I've been assured it's a male thing, so I leave a list.
Today's list.
* Put new batteries in thermostat. (I tried, and can't get the &%*#& cover off.)
I purposefully didn't take the thermostat off it's schedule this morning...so at about 9:00, the temp will go down to 55. I set it this way so the furnace isn't running all day while I'm at work. On mornings when he's going to be home, I try to remember to take it off schedule so he doesn't freeze. Today, I didn't change it, thinking that eventually he'll get cold and need to turn it up. And, while turning it up, notice that it's flashing Low Battery.
But, I still put it on the list...because I've learned not to assume anything.
** Look at treadmill.
I realize the error of my list. I should have written "Look IN treadmill." Silly me!!!!!
I'm a slave driver, aren't I???
You know, these blogs are kinda nice for the venting of frustrations, aren't they? I already feel better!!!!! Thanks!
** Update: He's called me, after I hung up on him. Treadmill is running, thermostat batteries are replaced. I'll leave the post up...it's kinda funny. :-)
*** Additional update: My hubby is wonderful. He cooks dinner almost every night he's home. He helps clean the house up if I ask. He tries to make me laugh when I'm down. He's not a slacker in any way, shape or form. I, on the other hand, am female. So I think like a female. Men seem to run on a different clock and schedule than women. Agreed? What I may think is a big deal, is small time to him. It's probably not fair that I complain about it. But - complaining about here keeps me from starting an argument that really doesn't needed started. In marriage, 90% of the arguments you have are over the dumbest, smallest, most insignificant things.
For example, our sink has two sides. If we put the dirty dishes on one side, the other is left open...so I don't have to move all kinds of dirty dishes to use it. Mot doesn't understand my logic. "What happens when we get a sink with one tub, not two?" My thought is that we'll deal with it when that day comes. He wants to start practicing now. :-)
Forgive me.
On this day in 1547, King Henry the VIII died.
After reading about it, a song popped into my head...and hasn't left. I thought I'd share the pain with others.
"I'm Henry the 8th I am, Henry the 8th I am, I am....."
If you make it through the first minute, you can stop watching....I did. I'm leaving now for a shot of insulin. Talk to you later!!!! :-)
After reading about it, a song popped into my head...and hasn't left. I thought I'd share the pain with others.
"I'm Henry the 8th I am, Henry the 8th I am, I am....."
If you make it through the first minute, you can stop watching....I did. I'm leaving now for a shot of insulin. Talk to you later!!!! :-)
Oh, I forgot.......
......to push some creative genius off onto my wonderful blog readers!!!! "Waaay Back When-sday" ideas anyone????
Come on, everyone has a burning question just dying to be asked, right????
Some embarrassing tidbit you'd never think I'd write about, only to be surprised to find that I'll write embarrassing stories freely.
Maybe you want to know if I've done something, in hopes of finding out you're not the only one to have done it as well?
No???
Nothing??
Come on, everyone has a burning question just dying to be asked, right????
Some embarrassing tidbit you'd never think I'd write about, only to be surprised to find that I'll write embarrassing stories freely.
Maybe you want to know if I've done something, in hopes of finding out you're not the only one to have done it as well?
No???
Nothing??
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