Arrrgh!!!

GAWD.....VALIUM IS MY FRIEND!!!

Now, you need to know that I don't do recreational drugs, and I do very limited prescription drugs, but today, I would have willingly taken a prescription for a BIG bottle of Valium!

I detest having to go to the dentist. Today, I had to have some periodontal work done. The only way the doc can get me into his office is to intice me with Valium. The mere thought of having to go makes me shake, so we've agreed that he will sedate me out of my mind with the big V and I will let him do whatever he wants to do.

I was actually cracking jokes in his chair. Who'd have believed it? Other than the fact that I damned near froze to death, and they had to cover me up, AND turn on the heat, to get me warm, I had a good ole time!

But, even though Valium is a lot of fun, I hope I never have to do that again.

It seems to me that I heard someone announce that the USPS is considering allowing people to have stamps with their own picture on them. I think the cost would be a dollar a stamp. I don't know if there would be a minimum number you have to order. It's apparently a way to make more money for the Post Office.

I can see women using them for wedding announcements and for bridal showers, or maybe on surprise birthday invitations. But, would you spend a buck a stamp just to send your face out in the mail??

Can't ya just see it.....They'll cancel the stamp and you'll look like you're behind bars!

I love watching men!

A few years ago I was sitting with my youngest sister. We had the oddest conversation. Her daughters were tiny then, and she was very conscious of the fact that small children are quick to learn by observation. Sis has always been a great watcher of men, especially their rear view. She was trying to tell me that she felt it necessary to put an end to that terrible habit for her daughter's sake, but as she was talking, her head swiveled to follow one particularly exceptional vision of male pulchritude. All I could do was hoot with laughter!

Remember the scene from "Roxanne" where the new firefighter meets the Chief (Steve Martin), and is mesmerized by his nose? Martin moves his nose back and forth, and the guy's head follows the movement. Sis is sorta like that around handsome men! *G*

I was in the grocery store today, and a man walked past pushing his cart. I just stayed where I was and watched for a bit. What a nice tush! I think male teens are missing a bet, wearing those darned baggy pants. Not only do they LOOK stupid....they are also missing out on the chance to find a girl who might be attracted to their (ahem) figure! That's one thing guys in their thirties have going for them...pants that FIT. I don't want to see a guy in pants that are so tight there's no room to squirm. Pants that nicely cup the curve of the butt are just right!

Another thought about those baggies.... I was also at the car wash today. Being a basically lazy person, I have the SUV washed for me, rather than doing it myself. I was waiting for the guys to finish the wipe-down when a young man sat down across from me. Guys, if you're going to wear shorts with really wide legs, you might want to have someone teach you how to sit with your knees together.

I recall an episode of "Friends" that was about guys "hanging out." I thought it was a funny, but contrived incident for a plot, and discovered today that it really happens. This guy was sitting with his legs sprawled open. I really TRIED not to look.....
*G*

1. What time do you wake up on weekday mornings?

The first time, between 4:40 and 5:00 when hubby kisses me goodbye. THe second time is between six and seven.

2. Do you sleep in on the weekends? How late? No, I try to take responsibility for the dog walk on weekends, so I'm up anywhere from 5:30 to 7:00 depending on Defer.

3. Aside from waking up, what is the first thing you do in the mornin? Pee. Doesn't everyone?? Okay.....pee, shower, dress, hair, makeup, TEA!

4. How long does it take to get ready for your day? From bed to door, 30 minutes if I am working at home, 45 if I have to go out.

5. When possible, what is your favorite place to go for breakfast? Quincy's. I like Cracker Barrel's hash brown casserole, but I haven't had it in a few years.

I wrote about the Chicago Tollway Authority and their push to collect all the unpaid tolls for the past two years, on June 9, 2003. That post has been a magnet for people who want to tell their stories.

The CTA was refusing to allow people to make payment plans. They have been demanding payment for two years of tolls and fines within 16 days. It was announced that those with fines over $500 could arrange to make payments, but it must not have gone into place in time for the last woman who commented.

Go read the comments and see how things are shaping up.

No...that's not a play on words. It seems that farmers have found a new way to make the most of their corn fields. They're taking several acres of their fields and cutting designs into them, and selling passes to walk the mazes.

Mazes are common in England, but the farmers have a new twist. Their mazes can be made from scratch each year, and the designs are complex. Most of them are new designs that don't bear any resemblance to the boxwood or evergreen mazes which take years to develop. Maze Play is one company that helps farmers create the designs. Take a look at some of their photos.

The invention of GPS gave the farmers the tool they needed to cut precision designs in the crops. Early in the year a design is chosen or created, and the crop is planted. The paper design is covered with a grid of GPS locations, and the information is converted into a device that the designer wears in the field.

As the designer walks the field, guided by the GPS device, he is followed by a tractor which removes specific cornstalks to create the alleyways of the design.

There is a farm in Northern Illinois that has nine miles of trails. I heard of this phenomenon while traveling through Indiana, but there are mazes all over the US and Canada.

If you haven't been to a farm lately, go and see the newest aspect of 21st century farming! Depending on your location, mazes will be available from August to November. Surf the web to find the one nearest you, or call your county extention service for more information.

I'd be really happy to tell you that it is a computer virus, or even a garden pest, but it's one of those upper respiratory thangs.

Yesterday morning, I had a scratchy throat when I woke, and felt better after breakfast. By 10:00 in the morning I was sneezing, and coughing, and by early afternoon those coughs started around my navel and came through like freight trains loose on a downward grade.

I won't go on about how rotten I feel, but I want to warn you that something nasty is out there. Take every precaution you can to avoid this. Have the kids wash hands frequently, and avoid playdates with anyone who has a sick family member.

If you catch it, a doctor friend has recommended Vitamin C. I'll tell you that hot chicken noodle soup and hot tea are very comforting. Go stock up on tissues. This is one time when you will want the tissues with aloe. Your nose will thank you!

And, Hook.....don't even suggest that this is my penance for butt watching!

I found this brief question and answer in the Chicago Tribune Parade, for August 3, 2003, page 2.

"Q. I read that Eddie Vedder and his group, Pearl Jam, bought 1400 square miles of endangered rain forest in Madagascar to compensate for the 5700 tons of greenhouse gas that will be created by the band's U.S. tour. Who will it help?--Chuck S., Mesa, Ariz.

A. They didn't buy the land but did give an undisclosed figure to Conservation International to protect that rain forest. It will help the 16.5 million people on the Indian Ocean isle of Madagascar and the five members of Pearl Jam, who hope to lure thousands of environmentally sensitive fans to concerts by convincing them that the band is politically correct. Sounds like a lot of gas to us."

I'd like to know who came up with the figure of 5700 tons of greenhouse gas, and how they determined that figure?! I assume they figured in the vehicles used to move the tour from site to site, and maybe even figured the cost due to the electricity they are going to consume for sound, lighting and air conditioning. But did they add in the effects from beer drinking concert attendees? I wonder what else they might have missed.

And, since when is a band concerned with being politically correct? It's lovely that they are helping to save the rain forest, but it's an odd way to generate press coverage for a tour.

When you are upset or ill, do you have a favorite food that soothes?

When I was a child, any time one of us was ill Mother would give us cream of tomato soup and Seven Up (a clear soda for those of you non-US readers). That's an odd combination. Chicken noodle soup would have probably been better for us, but Mother detests chicken noodle soup, so tomato it was. I'm sure the warmth from the hot liquid helped.

Today, the only thing I wanted to eat was a grilled cheese sandwich. It's not on my diet, but the diet is in abeyance until I feel better. I doubt I have to worry about gaining weight, feeling like this.

When my husband is ill, ice cream is his comfort food. I know others who prefer chocolate, but most of the peope I know go for starchy things. I wonder if there's a genetic reason for that? Maybe the body needs more fuel to fight the bug, and the starchy things are an easy source.

What's your favorite comfort food?

Did you know that Fellowes has created a shredder that will shred CDs, paper clips, and credit cards? (Model PS70-2CD $180). Since we now store so much of our personal information on CDs, I suppose this is a wise thing. Pardon my ignorance, but isn't it possible to erase a CD?? That would be a lot cheaper than shredding the suckers.

For those of you on a tight budget, the Royal MD 100 "Media Destroyer" is only a hundred bucks.

Lately I've been reading a lot of political and militarily oriented blogs. I'm astounded at how far I've let my knowledge of current events slip. After all, I was once married to a political science teacher, and my life was filled with a constant flurry of newspapers, radio and TV news, canvassing, elections and government activity.

But that's another story for another day. What I wanted to tell you about was a new site that I just discovered for those of us who are acronymly challenged:

acronymfinder.com

YEAH!!! Now I don't have to ask dumb questions!

I discovered today that Anna Paquin, who won an Oscar at 11 for her role in "The Piano," has continued to act. I don't know where I've been the past ten years. She's been in more than thirteen movies since she did "The Piano." I've actually seen her in "Finding Forrester," (my famous lack of memory creeping in here), and I have a copy of the movie "Amistad" which I'll watch now. What caught my attention was that she also plays "Rogue," a mutant, in the "X-men" movies.

Now I have TWO reasons to see the "X-men" movies: Anna, and Hugh Jackman. THERE'S a man who's easy on the eyes. He played a pretty role in "Kate and Leopold," but he plays "Wolverine," another mutant.

Jamie....you can have Toby Keith.....I'll take Hugh!

I have to say thank you to Sgt. Hook for the kindest of mentions. I've been trying to learn my way around Site Meter, and discovered that of the last 100 visits, perhaps half or more of them came through his blog.

Sarge, your support of new bloggers is a gracious thing. I'll remember and pass the favor on as I spread my wings.

If you haven't been to visit Sgt. Hook's blog, you must! He's a remarkable military man, and an incredible "human bean." *G*

Actually, my mind is still stuck on this weekend's topics. Last night I still felt too rotten to cook, so DH did take out from Olive Garden. Two of the four of us are ill, and he brings back four full sized entrees, four salads that could feed eight people, complete with salad dressing, cheese and croutons, and a bag of breadsticks. I had lasagana last night. It was very comforting, but filling. I'm working on the salad for lunch. Despite eating strangely, and eating things that are NOT on my diet, I've lost more weight. That may be the only good thing to say about being sick.

I was a little surprised about Acidman's reply to my question about comfort food. I rather expected that he would choose something inherently Cracker, but he likes egg drop soup. I guess that's an upscale chicken noodle soup. Dr. D. could have been raised in my family; his choices match mine down the line. Bogie really surprised me, with "refried beans." Actually, bogie, add a little cheese to that, and put it on a Tostito, and I might agree. See.....it's that starch thing again. Cheese goes well with anything. Speedbump is probably thinking of a suggestion for the queso at Miguelitos's right now! *WEG*

I was at the grocery store again today for more tush watching. I'm not a spring chicken any longer, and I recently realized that I've stopped watching the very young guys in favor of those who are a little older. Guys who are in their mid thirties to their late fifties seem to really draw my eye, especially if they have kept themselves fit. I'm happy to say that there are a LOT of guys who fit that description.

I wonder, after all the years that men have made it clear that they watch women, all the talk about "hooters" and "headlamps" and such, does it embarrass guys to know they are being watched? I don't go around making appreciative noises and pumping my arm in the air, and contrary to public opinion, I DON'T DROOL! But (and I've learned this from my MOTHER..) when you stop looking you might as well be dead. Actually, I was talking with Mother about this today. I asked her if she found that she was watching older men too, and she said "No." She didn't care to elaborate on the subject (pehaps she feared being immortalized here), but it seems she just likes MEN. PERIOD! Especially if they happen to have small red convertibles!

If ya really want to do something nice for me, arrange for a parade of attractive men to pass my way, today. I need a gutter guy, and a lawncare guy, and a handyman. Send the UPS and the FedEx guys, and the postman, and have a poll taker and floral delivery guy visit. Heck, if you can't think of any excuses, tell them to stop by and say they are LOST! Make my day!

A T-shirt announcing:

CO-ED NAKED GOLF!!

Jeeze......watch where you swing that thing!

I was browsing at Gut Rumbles today, and he directed me to two blogs that were new to me.

At Quit That! Marc posted a comment from his mother that I think you should read. I agree with a lot she had to say. I tend to think that I am not a racist person. The color of a person’s skin doesn’t bother me. What DOES bother me is willful ignorance, greed, sloth, general stupidity and intentional unkindness.

Her comments on education really resonated with me. Washington D.C. schools spend $13,000 per student and fail to show results. During at least the last twenty years, teacher’s colleges have been training prospective teachers to believe that it’s their duty to motivate the students. If the student fails, the teacher has failed. Horse hockey!

When parents teach their children that it is their RESPONSIBILITY to learn, and encourage them to learn, that $13,000 is going to create AWSOME students. Until Mom and Dad show the kids that a good education is a necessity, you can throw all the money and all the dedicated teachers at them that you want…..and nothing is going to happen.

Brava, Marc’s Mom!

The other website to go visit is Stupid Angry Canajun. She is a self proclaimed RM (Recovering Moron), and she has a lot to teach me.
Go visit. I think you’ll enjoy.

I know that we are in the middle of summer, and I should be posting recipes for fresh produce and grillable meals, but I'm getting over a cold and I'm still in comfort food mode. With that in mind, here's my favorite recipe for a cheddar chowder. If you have a Panera Bread store near you, serve this in their bread bowls.

This makes four hearty servings. You can double it without harming the output.

1 1/2 cups water
2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
1/2 cup each sliced celery and carrots
1/4 cup diced onion
1 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. fresh ground pepper
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup flour
1/2 to 1 tsp. dry mustard
2 cups milk
8 oz. sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded

If you are short on time you can chop the carrots, celery and onion in a food processor, a Little Oscar, or a food chopper. Don't be tempted to substitute cream for the milk. This makes a thick soup with milk. To make the cheese sauce, I highly recommend that you invest in a good wooden spoon. It will be kind to the soup, the pot and your hand.

In a large saucepan, bring the water to a boil, and add the veggies, salt and pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes or until the vegetables are soft when you press a fork into them.

While the veggies are cooking, melt the butter in a saucepan and blend in the flour and dry mustard. Let the mixture heat, stirring to prevent scorching. Add the milk, and stir constantly until the mixture comes to a boil. Boil for one minute. Add the cheese and stir until it has all melted. Blend the two mixtures together in the large saucepan. Heat thoroughly, but do not boil.

For a heartier version of this soup, add 1 cup diced ham when you blend the veggies and cheese sauce together.

We serve this with French bread and a green salad. Tonight we added fresh strawberries.

Do you believe there's a good day to die waiting for you out there?

We'll always be reminded of the Klingons who felt it was good to die in battle, and the men of the Wild West who prefered to die with their boots on.

John Grisham, opens his book "The Testament" with a billionaire signing a new will and then jumping to his death.

But on the other side of the coin is the mountain climber who cut off his own arm this year rather than face theGrim Reaper.

Can you imagine how difficult it is to talk to your parent about their wishes for their funeral? I had the opportunity to discuss this with my mother last week, and let me tell you, it's not an easy thing to do.

We've all experienced it, an ad that riles us so much that we turn the radio off, or click the mute button on the TV. We've all suffered through the expansion of pop up ads and banners and all forms of telephone harrassment...er marketing.
I wouldn't be surprised to learn that ads like that contribute to road rage and violence in the home.

There's one particular ad that we find so offensive that we RUSH to mute it. It's an ad for Menard's. It's a chain similar to Lowe's or Home Depot. Overly eager singers proclaim "Save More Money At Menard's." I can bear the singers and the jingle, it's the spokesman who drives me wild.

He's an old fashioned saleman with a huge smile and "Hail fellow well met" demeanor who hawk's the week's sales. I expect him to reach out of the TV and grasp my arm and pull me into the store, all the while telling me what wonderful things I'll find within. I can deal with all that, but his tone of voice simply makes me want to take a header off a cliff to get away from him.

We thought at one point that our prayers had been heard when a young woman replaced him for a while, but we suspect she must be his daughter. Same voice. (sigh)

I want advertising people to take notice: If you persist in making your ads this offensive, you will drive customers away. I will NEVER shop at Menards.

I'll save my complaints about pop ups, telemarketers, coupons in magazines, and fragrance ads that stink up an entire magazine for another rant.

If you shop at Menard's, would you please tell them to change the ads??

Monday night, Dear Husband drove us to Chicago to see the Tall Ship Serenity. The Chicago Maritime Society was hosting a fundraiser and it gave us the opportunity to board the Serenity and visit below decks. She has two compact living areas separated by an engine bay. As you can see below, she has two masts and four sails. She’s lovingly maintained. Her woodwork is glossy and the bright work gleams.

At 65 feet, Serenity is one of the smaller ships to participate in the Tall Ship festival. She’s a steel bottomed, gaff-rigged schooner that was built 1986. Her usual compliment is three, but she is certified to carry 34 passengers.

The Serenity sails out of the Cape Charles area of the Chesapeake Bay. Her owners rent her out for special occasions. The website is www.schoonerserenity.com If my pictures turn out, I'll have some closeups of her this weekend.

DH was quietly observing the construction and the rigging, assessing whether it could be sailed solo. He had technical questions for the owners and asked about the handling. I'm sure he envisioned himself at the helm. *S*

The Tall Ships were in Chicago last week. A number of them docked on the Chicago River to provide easier access for visitors. As the Bounty motored into the Chicago River, she brushed against one of the bridges and lost three spars at the top of her masts. The general opinion at the gathering was that the accident had made her more historically correct.

The ships sailed out of Chicago on Monday on their way to other ports around Lake Michigan. I hope the'll be back next year. They are a beautiful reminder of a long gone era.

Sorry, Sir. I'm learning how to embed pictures tonight, and I needed the practice *smirk*

I was visiting at Altered Perceptions this morning, and came across a post questioning whether there should be a Code of Ethics for bloggers. Dawn provided a link to Calblog where the proposal for the Code of Ethics has been made. I strongly encourage you to visit and read the comments, but I'll summarize them here.

First, it was felt by many that the term "Code of Ethics" was inappropriate due to the fact that blogs are a personal rather than professional endeavor. Anticipatory Retaliation suggested that it might be more appropriate to call them "Standards," since standards do not carry any moral weight.

The sugggestion that most appealed to me was that each blogger should post their own guidelines in the "About Me" section of their blog. The most commonplace, and generally agreed upon guidelines are these:

1. Give credit where credit is due. Link to your sources when your post builds
off someone else's work. Cite original information.

2. If you are reporting on factual information, check your facts.

3. Do not change a post significantly once it has been established on your blog.
Personally, I will go back to change typos, grammar goofs, and broken
links within the first few minutes after I have posted, but rather than edit a
post in a way that changes the message, the better choice is to add an
Update at the bottom of the post.

4. Somewhere at your site, post your stand on the issue of comments. Let
your readers know in advance how you handle obscenity or personal
attacks, should you choose to delete this material from your blog.

5. Do not delete a post. I'm not sure I agree with this. I have deleted one
post and the comments that went with it. It was a personal rant that I later
regretted. In the future, I might also delete a post if it caused me grief. I'd
like to see some discussion of this issue as to why a blogger shouldn't have
control over their own blog.

In the comment section at Calblog, Claxton6 (who does not have a blog link) suggested that bloggers might want to read Rebecca Blood's "Weblog Ethics." I find them appropriate for blogs which focus on news or political issues, but to some degree, unnecessary for those of us whose blogs are personal commentary.

If you read Dawn's post, you'll see that she doesn't feel blog police are necessary or desirable, and I agree with her. However, a collection of common practices that might guide new bloggers as they put their oars in the stream is a good idea. Let each person post their own guidelines and no one will have to pony up for police uniforms.

I was visiting billy's blog yesterday and took a side trip to meet eloon. She has a very funny story about the power of suggestion on Thursday, August 7, starting with “What you really don’t want….”

Does the sound of running water make you need to pee? When you are out with friends, and someone rises from the table and says they will be right back, does it flash across your brain (and bladder) that you need to be excused, too? If you're working in the kitchen, and you have your hands in water, is that when you decide you really need to run for the potty? Does the phone always ring just when you’ve taken your first steps toward the bathroom? If you said "YES!" to any of those things, you're a woman.

Maybe because of the nature of feminine plumbing we have learned early on to be sure to take care of business every chance we get. Most women scope out the restrooms in a mall so that they know how far they are from one if they (or their children) need it. When I was traveling, I'd stop at McDonald's just because they had the cleanest johns (no double entendre intended), and they were likely to be found in almost any town I visited.

Every woman has experienced the situation where you’ve been quietly waiting, thinking that in just two more minutes you'll be able to make a break for the bathroom, and someone or something delays you. Just about that time a waiter will top off your glass of water, and beads of condensation will roll down the glass. Or, you’ll pass through a reception area that has a trickling fountain. Or it will start to rain outside. It's truly unfair that every little thing can remind us of the cup of tea we just drank, or the one too many cups of coffee we had this morning.

Men have always wanted to know why women go to the ladies’ room in packs. All this time they’ve been worried that the women wanted to gossip about them, but it’s really just the power of suggestion.

My newspaper brought me the information that businessmen in Chicago feel that they need an edge. A number of them are finding it by having a third of their gray removed.

Would I lie to you?

I feel another bout of simplification coming on. It happens every time I get to sit down with my newest copy of "Real Simple." This magazine has come along just at a time in my life when I long to get back to the nitty gritty. It has guidelines for simplifying every aspect of life. Usually I pay attention to those which simplify chores. Anyone in his right mind wants to make chores easier so they can get on to the good things in life.

But....this time the item that caught my eye was on multitasking.

I'm practicing on pictures today, so I thought I would share two close-ups of the Serenity with you. This is a picture of her bow:

And this is a picture of her belaying pins, midships.

I was visiting Bogie's blog and found that she had done one of the Quizilla tests. This time, it was "Which Heinlein Book Should You Have Been a Character In?

It seems she and I have a lot in common. We both came up with this:

You belong in the Cat Who Walks Through Walls. You
are creative and cunning. Your works often
feel empty to you, though others love them.
You suspect that the universe and everyone in
it are just characters in someone else's story.


Which Heinlein Book Should You Have Been A Character In?
brought to you by Quizilla

I was browsing in another blog...it might have been the Vodka Pundit or Quit That, and came across a list of 50 Things a Man Needs to Know How to Do. It was a great list, and I wish I could direct you to it. The comments that followed were enlightening, too, but the one that I enjoyed most was this quote from Lazarus Long in the book "Time Enough For Love":

"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects."

I have a lot to learn, and I might become a vegetarian before I butcher a hog, but the rest is worth attempting.

Have there been occasions when you didn't get a picture that you really regret? We are not terribly into taking pictures. I buy an instant camera each spring and record the flower gardens and the herb garden. I take a picture of my grandson each summer when he comes to visit, measuring his growth against his grandfather. I've been taking pictures of Defer because this may be his last summer with us.

But there was an occasion when I needed to take an entire roll of film, and not a single picture turned out.

When our grandson was perhaps five years old, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were really popular. He adored them and owned almost all the action toys from the movies. He was coming to us for his annual visit, and DH decided to do something special for him.

I didn't know what he had planned until he asked for my assistance. He called me into the bedroom and asked if I would help him put "the shell" on. DH had stopped at a costume shop and rented one of the TMN Turtle costumes. As I recall, he was Michaelangelo.

I had been trying to get my husband to wear tights with a swashbuckler's costume for Halloween for years! The man has fabulous legs and a nothing tush! He would look fantastic in a costume like that, but the tights were the hangup. It seems real men don't wear tights. I thought that maybe as a joke I'd get him into them after "Robin Hood, Men in Tights" came out, but it was no deal.

But, for his grandson, he had slithered into the tights and a green turtleneck (what else) and now he needed help to get the rest of the costume on.

It only took a few seconds, and then I was instructed to take our grandson out to the front walk. When "the Turtle" walked up the sidewalk, he didn't know what to think. At first he was a bit shy, and then he looked a little skeptical. You could see that he was trying to figure out what was wrong with the picture.

DH kept the conversation to a minimum, and avoided doing any backflips. I took plenty of pictures, hoping for proof that my husband had actually worn tights, and then it was finally time for our visitor to go.

I keep hoping that one day he'll give in. I took him to the "Pirates of the Caribbean" thinking that it might get him in the mood, but no such luck. The day I finally get him to wear tights you'll hear me all the way from Chicago....WOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

My thanks to my oldest stepson, who sends me lists! THe most recent list:

1. The two most common elements in the universe are hydrogen and stupidity.

2. If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.

3. Money can't buy happiness, but it sure makes misery easier to live with.

4. Deja moo: The feeling that you've heard this bull before.

5. Psychiatrists say that 1 of 4 people are mentally ill. Check three friends.
If they're OK, you're it.

6. Nothing in the known universe travels faster than a bad check.

7. A truly wise man never plays leapfrog with a unicorn.

8. It has recently been discovered that research causes cancer in rats.

9. Always remember to pillage BEFORE you burn.

10. If you are given an open-book exam, you will forget your book.

11. If you are given a take-home test, you will forget where you live.

12. The trouble with doing something right the first time is that nobody
appreciates how difficult it was.

13. It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning
to others.

14. Gravity Law: You can't fall off the floor.

15. The average woman would rather have beauty than brains because the
average man can see better than he can think.

16. Clothes make the man. Naked people have little-to- no influence on society.

17. Vital papers will demonstrate their vitality by moving from where
you left them to where you can't find them.

18. Law of Probability Dispersal: Whatever it is that hits the fan will
not be evenly distributed

Moses, "Excuse me, Sir."

"Is that you again, Moses?"

"I'm afraid it is, Sir."

"What is it this time, Moses; more computer Problems?"

"How did you guess?"

"I don't have to guess, Moses. Remember ?"

"Oh, yes; I forgot."

"Tell me what you want, Moses."

"But you already know, Sir. Remember?"

"Moses!"

"Sorry, Sir."

"Well, go ahead, Moses; spit it out."

"Well, I have a question, Sir. You know those ten 'things' you sent
me via e-mail?"

"You mean the Ten Commandments, Moses?"

"That's it. I was wondering if they are important."

"What do you mean 'if they are important,' Moses? Of course, they
are important. Otherwise, I would not have sent them to you."

"Well, sorry, Sir, but I lost them. I could say the dog ate them;
but, of course, you would see right through that."

"What do you mean you 'lost them'? Are you trying to tell me you
didn't save them, Moses?"

"No, Sir; I forgot."

"You should always save, Moses."

"Yes, I know. You told me that before. I was going to save them,
but I forgot. I did forward them to some people before I lost them
though."

"And did you hear back from any of them?"

"You already know I did. There was the one guy who said he never
uses 'shalt not.' May he change the words a little bit?"

"Yes, Moses, as long as he does not change the meaning."

"And what about the guy who thought your stance was a little harsh,
and recommended calling them the 'Ten Suggestions,' or letting
people pick one or two to try for a while?"

"Moses, I will act as if I did not hear that."

"I think that means 'no.' Well, what about the guy who said I was
scamming him?"

"I think the term is 'spamming,' Moses."

"Oh, yes. I. E-mailed him back and told him I don't even eat that
stuff, and I have no idea how you can send it to someone through a
computer."

"And what did he say?"

"You know what he said. He used Your name in vain. You don't think
he might have sent me one of those -- err -- plagues, and that's
the reason I lost those ten 'things', do you?"

"They are not plagues; they are called 'viruses,' Moses."

"Whatever! This computer stuff is just too much for me. Can we go
back to those stone tablets? It was hard on my back taking them out
and reading them each day, but at least I never lost them."

"We will do it the new way, Moses; using computers"

"I was afraid you would say that, Sir."

"Moses, what did I tell you to do if you messed up?"

"You told me to hold up this rat and point it toward the computer."

"It's a mouse , Moses, not a rat. Mouse! Mouse! And did you do that?"

"No, I decided to try calling technical support first. After all,
who knows more about this stuff than you? And I really like your
hours. By the way, Sir, did Noah have two of these mice on the ark?"

"No, Moses."

"One other thing. Why did you not name them 'frogs' instead of
'mice,' because did you not tell me the thing they sit on is a pad?"

"I did not name them, Moses. Man did, and you can call yours a frog
if you want to."

"Oh, that explains it. I bet some woman told Adam to call it a
mouse. After all, was it not a woman who named one of the computers
'Apple?'"

"Say good night, Moses."

"Wait a minute, Sir. I am pointing the mouse, and it seems to be
working. Yes, a couple of the ten 'things' have come back."

"Which ones are they, Moses?"

"Let me see. 'Thou shalt not steal from any grave "an image" and
'Thou shalt not correct Thy neighbor's wife.'"

"Turn the computer off, Moses. I'm sending you another set of stone
tablets."

I empathize with Moses.

I know....I've been a bit lazy lately. Usually I have dozens of little things I want to blog about, but this week I seem to be short on ideas.

I really envy those of you who have stong opinions about that's happening in your lives. Mine is rather quiet, actually downright DULL compared to most of you. I've seen interesting posts about getting lost in DE-troit, and a pooch that took himself to the vet, and I've seen information about the Blaster worm at Gut Rumbles and Quit That. Too bad Sgt. Hook is away. I'm waiting for the next installment of his "Road" stories. Go read the first two stories. Speaking of stories....Dr. D.....whatever happened to BLANCHE???

Oh....did you hear? SPEEDBUMP has posted. Yes! The man is alive and revving up for a trip to see Tobey Keith with the love of his life, Jamie. Go give him encouragement so he doesn't disappear for another 6 weeks. If you haven't clicked on my link for "I could have been a contender," you should. I hit the "I feel lucky" button one day and discovered billy in the middle of moving his family, and I got lucky! No....I haven't met the man yet, but it's been nice visiting with him. *G*

Here, you'll find recipes, or "funnies" or garden chat. I suppose the gentleness of my posting is due to the cold that is still hanging on, but more likely it's that my life is way too quiet! The good news is that I get to go to lunch with my oldest sister tomorrow. Perhaps she will have something to say that will give me ideas for blogging.

Until then, I'd like to say welcome to Texas T-bone, who has joined us as part of Red Eagle's group of bloggers. Smart move, guy!

Time to snooze. See you all tomorrow!

Bogie, I didn't realize what I would be unleashing on you when I told Billy about your trial of TypePad. Here I thought he was a sweet, well mannered soul, and now I find he's been pestering you with questions! *G*

If he gets too fresh, especially while Wonderful Spouse is away, just deck him! He's used to Carolyn (his wife) keeping him on the straight and narrow, it seems. One more bruise won't be noticeable.

Have you heard from Wonderful Spouse? I'm glad that Yellowstone has been quiet while he visited.

I meant to tell you that when I was traveling for the University, I'd stop at the same places on each trip. The hostess in the dining room asked how I felt about having company at my table. I told her that I'd give it a try, which could have turned out really bad. She was careful who she chose to seat with me, and we both enjoyed our meals. It was nice to meet new people and have some conversation.

I do what you do, and carry a book with me, but it seems rude to read at night. Eating alone, especially if you have to do it often, is not much fun.
I guess we need to develop a snooty look to use on people who are rude enough to stare, whisper and point. Maybe THEY need to carry books at dinner and mind their own business!

I was browsing through the blogs, and visiting some of the links, and I found an interesting post on the subject of people watching at Broadatbat. Actually, she was writing about men watching women, and the fact that some women object to that activity on the part of their significant other.

Mamma taught me....."If you can't look, you might as well be dead." You all know I am a people watcher. As I waited for my sister to join me for lunch yesterday, I watched the people walking by. Wednesday at 11:00 in the morning is not a great place to watch people in a mall. There was a preponderance of women pushing two seat strollers, all in a hurry to get where they were going before the kids decided to have a meltdown.

I wanna just SMACK those mothers who snarl at their children in public. I understand being at your wit's end and having a bad day, and then have the kids go ballistic. But if that's the case, you shouldn't be out at the mall. If you're treating the kids badly in a public place, what might you be doing in private?? Give everybody the day off. Get a little rest and relaxation, and do the mall another day.

So...okay....I got a little off topic. It's been a hard day. When DH and I are out, if I see either something incrediblty odd or something really lovely, I'll nudge him and try to direct his attention. He's the only man I have ever met who is seemingly unaware of the people around him. I'm not pimping for him, just sharing what I'm seeing. I don't mind him looking, although it seems a lot of women feel that is an insult.

My thoughts on it run this way. If he can't look, then he may feel that I can't look. Since it's unlikely he will ever get me to walk around in public with my eyes closed, why shouldn't he look? I don't understand the insult in watching, unless your spouse or boyfriend is constantly comparing you to what he sees, and you always come up wanting in the comparison. Now, that's rude!

Anything beyond watching is out, though. I'm not good at sharing. I've learned that from Jamie. An occasional kiss of welcome, or a kiss goodbye....maybe. But no touchy feely stuff. I mean....I'm reasonable on this subject. Look, but don't touch.

I think New Yorkers will have another day to look back on. I sincerely hope that their trial is brief. They've had their share of misfortune.

When I was a child, I woke up one frigid winter morning to find that we didn't have any heat. My father had built our home and we had hot water heat. The pipes in the unheated garage had frozen, cutting off our source of heat. Dad made a roaring fire in the fireplace in the living room and we sat close to the heat while my parents ferried breakfast to us. We heated our clothes by the fire and left it just long enough to dress.

We're better prepared these days, but a loss of power could be a serious problem if we had severe heat or cold. I'm more aware of these possibilities because my mother lives with us, and due to age, she's less adaptable. Fortunately, if we were to loose heat or air conditioning, I could drive her to my sister's home for a stay.

I can't imagine having my mother in a tall building in New York City, when there was no power. I'd NEVER get her down the stairs, so the only thing we could do would be to wait by a window and hope that help arrived, or the power was restored. Even if I was able to get her down a few flights of stairs, where would I have taken her, especially in the heat? I carry a cell phone in my purse now, so that I can get help if we are away from home. Did the cell phones work today? Do they have to go through switching stations that need electricty?

I'm a suburburn person. I have suburban street smarts. I've been very fortunate to have lived a safe, lucky life. Perhaps I need to plan for other contingencies. You know the saying....."Be Prepared!"

I was in the car earlier this week and heard that Pfizer and Glaxo, two of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the US announced that they would discontinue supplying Canadian pharmacies that resell their product to the US. For more on the subject, visit the Boston Globe article from August 7, 2003.

The entire subject of the cost of drugs in the US riles me. We pay at least TWICE as much for the exact same drug as the Canadians, and other countries pay much less than the Canadians. It's the exact same medicine, not a generic, but Americans are expected to pay through the nose "to support the cost of research."

HORSE HOCKEY!!!

Those companies can sell their products for the same price to every country, and they might make a billion or two less in profits, and still be able to fund the research. They are going to find very rapidly, that the baby boomers in the US will NOT be able to pay their outrageous demands and their free ride will be over.

It can't happen soon enough!

Some clever person put this list together. I'd like to give them credit for it, but it's one of those anonymous things circulating on the Internet. I'm posting it to show that I am not the only woman in the world who prefers a clean potty, Billy!

WHY MEN ARE JUST HAPPIER PEOPLE

What do you expect from such simple creatures!?
Your last name stays put.
The garage is all yours.
Wedding plans take care of themselves.
Chocolate is just another snack.
You can be president.
You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park.
You can wear NO T-shirt to a water park.
Car mechanics tell you the truth.
The world is your urinal.
You never have to drive to another gas station
because this one's just too icky.
You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt.
Same work, more pay.
Wrinkles add character.
Wedding dress - $5000; tux rental - $100.
People never stare at your chest when you're talking to them.
The occasional well-rendered belch is practically expected.
New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet.
One mood, ALL the time.
Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat.
You know stuff about tanks.
A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase.
You can open all your own jars.
You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness.
If someone forgets to invite you, he or she can still be your friend.
Your underwear is $8.95 for a three-pack.
Three pairs of shoes are more than enough.
You almost never have strap problems in public.
You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes.
Everything on your face stays its original color.
The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades.
You only have to shave your face and neck.
You can play with toys all your life.
Your belly usually hides your big hips.
One wallet and one pair of shoes, one color, all seasons.
You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look.
You can "do" your nails with a pocketknife.
You have freedom of choice concerning growing a mustache.
You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives, on December 24,
in 45 minutes.

No wonder men are happier!

With the new school year close upon us, one of the things I'm seeing on the news is a discussion of school uniforms. At one time, only military schools, and parochial schools were likely to require uniforms, but there is a growing trend in the United States for public school students to wear uniforms. As of 2002, the most students in uniform reside in California, Texas, Florida, New York and Illinois.

Forbes.com has published a list of the most expensive places to live. Chicago has moved up from eighth place in 2002, to seventh place this year. The list was based on a number of factors including high rent, high cost of living, and low job growth.

These 10 cities are the least desirable:

1. San Jose
2. San Francisco
3. Honolulu
4. Bergen-Passaic, NJ
5. NY
6. Boston
7. Chicago
8. Milwaukee
9. LA
10. Seattle

The chili sauce is in the pot, bubbling away. I got up at 5:30 to get things started, and had all the ingredients laid out, tomatoes weighed, and pots washed, when my mother walked into the kitchen. She has my cold, the one I'm not quite over, that's lasted 15 days.

For those of you who have a significant other, have you noticed a drop in the time you spend together?

When we first find someone we are attracted to, we make getting to know that person our main interest. We spend a lot of time together learning about each other. If that person is destined to become our significant other, the interest continues for some time. We WANT to do things together.

Unfortunately, most couples are not able to sustain that level of togetherness. Jobs and families intervene and our time becomes limited.

There’s no hope for me. I’ve stooped to helping young men in the grocery store, now.

I was shopping. I had a small list, but it was spread across the entire store, so I was wending my way up and down the aisles. I kept passing this cute guy, who must have been all of 24 or 25, looking lost. Finally, about the fifth or sixth time, I asked him if I could help him find something. He was looking for pancake syrup, which is filed in a really quirky place in that store. I lead him to it…got profuse thanks, and I disappeared around the corner before someone could accuse me of robbing the cradle! *G* God, he had a GREAT smile!

Have you ever had a washer overflow? Or a basement that quietly filled with water when the sump pump failed? Have you ever had a pipe burst in the basement? I've had two of the three, and I hope we won't have to live through any of that again. Some of the things which could be damaged by water are on pallets because my basement is STILL not organized, but more than four inches of water, and I'm in trouble.

I found the neatest tool! The Sonin Water Alarm is a device that sets off an alarm when there is too much water in an area that should be dry. It has a remote sensor. You attach the alarm to the wall, and stop worrying! (As if THAT'S going to happen....but at least I'll worry less.)

The best part about it is that it sells for $11.50 and can be ordered at Amazon.com! (No, I'm not getting a kick-back from them....I just wanted to share my find.)

Now tell me that I just made your day! :-)

I think there's a gene missing in my body.....the shopping gene. I don't like to shop. Well, let me rephrase that.....there's a lot of stuff I don't like to have to shop for.

"Dentopedology is the science of opening your mouth and putting your foot in it. I've been practicing it for years."

I was astounded to find that Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh is the author of that quote. We must be related. I would have thought that, given all the years that Prince Phillip has been a public figure, that he would have learned how to cope with this problem, but it seems not.

I'm a very modest drinker. I love wine. I used to like just white wines, but my range has extended to the reds. My taste in wine followed the trends of the day: Lancer's Rose, Rhine wine (shudder), Chablis, White Zinfandel, Pinot Grigio. I've never liked Chardonnay, though. Now I drink shiraz, beaujolais, zinfandel, chianti, riojas...all kinds of wonderful wine.

I was delighted to read that researchers at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine have determined that women who drink no more than 14 drinks a week, but at least one, have a lower risk of heart disease than those who abstain, or those who drink more heavily (15 or more drinks a week).

Do you feel that the quality of your life is less if you don't own a Prada bag or a Ralph Lauren suit, or sports clothes from Nautica or a $400 pair of Italian shoes? Is it important to you to wear clothing that advertises that you are at the top of the game in fashion? Do you feel that you are a second class citizen if you don't dress in upscale name brand clothing, or wear logos on your chest? Do you need to wear items made by the current star in the firmament of fashion?

Culinary oddities is another subject I'd like to blog about. My family is particularly fond of a grilled peanut butter sandwich with sweet relish, or what we call "picalilly." A number of people have wrinkled their noses and gone "Eeeeewwwwww" when they heard the combination (Most notably Dear Husband). On the other hand I was reading Pobricito's blog, and I discovered a discussion of pilchards and marmite. There's an awful lot of odd things that human beings are likely to be found eating.

Imagine the guy who discovered that you could eat snails! "Yep....not bad, but they'd be great with some garlic butter!" I figure you had to be hard up to eat snake or octopus or raw fish, too. And spare me tripe or chitlins. Give me apple crisp or cherry cobbler any time!

I noticed a car today that had a bumper sticker announcing how proud they were of their honor student. I think that this is an absolutely fantastic idea. People who do outstanding work should be recognized for their success, especially children. I've seen the response to these bumper stickers, from people whose children are less successful. For instance: "My kid flunked and he can take your honor roll kid anytime!" Still, I think the idea of supporting your child's efforts is well worth doing.

I've abandoned my diet briefly. I was lured away by the heavenly scent at the display of tree-ripened peaches at the grocery store. As I stood there and inhaled, I realized that the vegetable section had been set up to create "eye candy" to entice shoppers to buy. The textures were wonderful. Smooth, shiny skins on the peppers contrasted with bumpy red raspberries, or the dimpled rinds of the oranges. The tightly curled Chinese cabbage complemented the looser rim of the red lettuce. The colors were gorgeous, the rosy peaches, the blueberries, and the yellow of the bananas. Every shade of green was represented, and the splash of purple in the cabbage and eggplant was the finishing touch to a painting. Marketers are really savvy these days.

I'm going to enjoy the fresh fruit for a couple of days, and then resume my diet. I figure it was a worthwhile interruption.

Did you know that in some towns in the US if you sell your house and move to a new house in the same town, that they will tax you as much as one dollar per thousand for the price of your new house? I was astounded to hear that rule, and I'll never move again without being sure that I'm not going to get hit with a fee like that! I assume the towns quietly fail to advertise that law, or no one in their right mind would buy another house in the same town!

In my reading today, I came across the information that states are making up for lost income by raising fees rather than taxes. For instance, the license plates for cars or boats, or the cost to file plans with the building department, or fees for ambulance service, or a large number of services that most of us need at one time or another have been raised. No self-respecting politician who wants to be re-elected will raise taxes when they can sneak fees like this past the populace. It's Tuesday, do you know what your representative is up to??

UPDATE: I just discovered where I found the information on hidden fees. It was over at the Parkway Rest Stop. Go visit Jim and get the complete story on his post Monday, August 18......"A Tax By Any Other Name."

We don't give chickens enough credit for what they go through so that we can have eggs for breakfast.....

I was visiting T at Eagle Eye View and discovered that she's a mellow grapefruit. I had to go take
this test so I could find out what flavor I am before I crash for the night.

No surprises here....

I'm an Authentic Apple

True to the core, you're adored for being both good-natured and caring. In fact, when it comes to friends, you're the gold standard — the one everyone comes to for advice, perspective, and plain old good times. Truth is, people just like having you around. Must be something about your solid disposition that everyone finds so appealing. Or maybe it's the fact that you show your true colors so people know you're the real deal...

Regardless, it's not surprising that you mix so well in so many situations — from large get-togethers, to one-on-one time. Whatever your goals, you aim high while keeping your feet firmly planted on the ground. Overall, the people in your life trust you because you are willing to give straight advice and honest feedback. With your pleasant approach, and drive to find excitement in even the littlest things, it's no wonder you're the apple of so many eyes.

Gad.....makes me sound like an Earth Mother.....

Much to Red Eagle's disgust, I use AOL to access the Internet. One day I'll grow up and get a real provider, but until then I'll be treated to such news flashes as the one that inspires today's post.

My day started out with AOL announcing that there is a HUGE surge in vacationing in the buff. It seems that in the past ten years annual revenue based on nudism has increased from $120 to $400 MILLION dollars a year.

I visited this site at CNN to learn that people are now offering nude motorcycle rallys (Bogie, WHERE was WS??), nude hiking and camping (Gawd, think of the mosquito bites and poison ivy), and cruises. You can send your children to nude camps, or go to one of 260 clothing optional resorts in North America. The number of resorts have doubled in ten years.

I'm just too placid. I have spent my last decade searching for a calmer life, one that doesn't require me to be shouting "JERK!!!" every ten minutes, and I seem to have found it. Of course, it requires spending a HUGE amount of time at home alone, but it can be done.

Actually, a little ranting, or even a little excitement in your life is a good thing. Occasionally I miss the camaraderie of fellow workers, or the bustle of traffic and then I remember the back stabbing, the road rage, and everything that goes with too many people trying to be in one spot at the same time, and I say a little prayer of thanks.

To brighten my life a little, I've been living vicariously, and you can, too. Go visit Stupid Angry Canajan and Altered Perceptions.

If you are rantless, or placid, let them bring you up to speed.

I'm frequently astounded at the variety of what I read as I browse through the blogs. It occured to me that there should be a way to draw bits and pieces of them together into a short story.

Where does your mind go with this: rotten oranges (from a comment by T-bone), voyeurism and comic books (from Billy), a string trimmer (from WichiDude), and PMSing (from Jamie).

Welcome to the first Blog Pastiche: a short story free-for-all for bloggers. Take those four items and devise a few paragraphs incorporating them. You get extra credit if you can include ANYTHING from Silflay Hraka except beer.

Post your entry on your own blog, but leave a comment and a link here so others can find your work.

Lord, spare me from Homeowner's Associations! It seems that they are all powerful and that you are guilty until proven innocent.

Did you know that your Homeowners Association can fine you for each stork that a relative plants on your lawn to celebrate the birth of your child. Or that you can be fined for planting TOO MANY rosebushes?

You can be fined for hanging out your laundry, or hanging a cute little swing by your doorway. You can also be fined if you paint your house the wrong color! AND you can be fined for a fence that is the wrong height, or for having foster children, or for disturbing the new fallen snow!

...Pharmeceuticals.

The Chicago Tribune is advertising some of the articles they are going to publish in the Sunday edition on August, 24, 2003. One of them is about the plethora of herbal suppliments that companies are marketing to boost women's sex drive.

Take a gander at the list of suppliments that are out there:

Avlimil

Escalate

Vigel

Zestra

Maxerin

Impulsaria

Viacreme

Climatique

ArginMax

HerTurn

Finally

Femore

I'll bet you anything that MEN are doing the research....and that MEN are marketing it, and MEN hope to profit by it in several ways.

I'm of two thoughts. First....they could save their money and simply take the time to listen to their wives, and share some of what's going on in their lives. They could participate more fully in their relationship, of their own volition, and that might go a long way to easing things in the bed room.

And, secondly, they could re-think the concept of "sexual dysfunction." What works for one woman sexually might not work for another. I think response that doesn't meet a fictional "norm," is seen as dysfunction, when it may not be. Our models are not the norm, yet they are the image to which most women aspire. Most likely the ideas that have been put forth in fiction and magazines concerning sexual response are not the norm, either.

I'm sure there are women who ARE dysfunctional, but somehow I doubt all these herbal remedies are going to help the majority of them.

What a boondoggle!

I'm not even sure where to start with this. By rights it ought to be a rant, but there's a lot of general stuff, too, so I guess it's just a semi-rant.

I wanted to blog on Saturday, but my computer service was so iffy that I went to bed in disgust. I could get into AOL, but AOL wouldn't let me connect to any of your blogs or visit any websites. I'm really spoiled now. I'm used to getting on line without any problem, so when I hit a night like this it's incredibly frustrating.

The "Q" section of the Sunday Chicago Tribune frequently provides me with blog fodder. It's likely to be the quirky things in life, but those are the things that catch my attention these days. (shrugs)

One of the cover stories was about what to do with CDs that you receive as part of an ad campaign, or a purchase. Did you know that one of the disposable diaper companies provided a CD with lullabies as part of a promotion? Probably the greatest source of unwanted CDs is the blanket mailing sent out by AOL. Everyone has received at least one of these. I think our household has had about 20 of them

If you are tired of receiving those mailers, you can call 800-466-5463 and ask to be removed from the AOL disc list. Or, if you'd like a chance to tweak AOL's tail, you can go to www.nomoreaolcds.com The site's organizers are trying to collect a million AOL CDs to truck them back to company headquarters.

btw.....if you are going to dispose of CDs, put them in the garbage. CDs, DVDs and CDroms can't be recycled through the usual city programs. If you really want to recyle them, go to www.greendisk.com Green Disk recycles CDs for large companies, but they will accept them in smaller amounts. Download a shipping form, and send your CDs off to them.

Hmmmm....it seems I have a couple of really bad Christmas CDs I could donate....

I thought I knew what was out there in terms of men's skivvies, but I learned a little more this weekend. "Q" in the Chicago Tribune this Sunday began it's section on style with a discussion of Captain Underpants (Tuesday's release: Captain Underpants and the Big, Bad Battle of the Bionic Booger Boy, Part 1: The Night of the Nasty Nostril Nuggets), and moved right on to what men are chosing to wear these days.

Doesn't it just drive you wild when someone you read has a post you want to comment on, but they are set to NO COMMENTS!!!???

I was just reading at the Parkway Rest Stop. Jim has written an entry about harmony, and how wonderful close vocal harmony can be. There's a phenomenon that I've only heard a few times. When a group is performing, if they have given exceptional attention to playing "in tune," you can sense a descant soprano voice resonating over the top of the music. With vocal groups, you get a full sound, as though one more line has been added to the top of the score.

I love to sing harmony. I have an alto voice, and try as they might my professors were never able to stretch my range to that of second soprano. My throat just doesn't like those notes at the top of the staff. I recall one professor who actually had me lie on the floor to sing during my lesson. I thought it was odd, but complied. It was embarrassing when his colleagues walked in. Lying on the floor was supposed to relax my diaphragm. Ya couldn't prove it by me once the room got crowded.

At any rate.....good close harmony is a joy to sing. You don't have confine yourself to barbershop music. Go vist Jim to see a list of well know groups who sing great harmony!

"Cash, check or charge?" I asked, after folding the items the woman wished to purchase. As she fumbled for her wallet, I noticed a remote control for a television set in her purse. "So, do you always carry your TV remote?" I asked. "No," she replied, "but my husband refused to come shopping with me, so I figured this was the most legal, evil think I could do to him."

(WICKED GRIN)

Seen on a truck today:

HORN DOESN'T WORK. WATCH FOR FINGER!

Alas and alack....

Dell has replaced our hard drive, but I didn't realize that we didn't have a copy of our Operating System until 5:00 Wednesday afternoon. If I had been on the ball, I'd have ordered the new O/S on Monday, and I could have been programing the computer today.

We have a cable channel here in the US which used to be known as The Nashville Network (TNN). It has recently been taken over by aliens and is known now as "Spike." It's being touted as the first network for men.

Watch for these mergers in late 2003 and make yourself a bundle.

1. Hale Business Systems, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Fuller Brush and W. R. Grace
will merge and become Hale, Mary, Fuller, Grace.

2. Polygram Records, Warner Bros. and Zesta Crackers join forces and
become Polly, Warner, Cracker.

3. 3M will merge with Goodyear and Campbell's Soup and issue forth as
MMMGood.

4. Zippo, Mfg., Audi Motor Car, Dofasco, and Dakota Mining will merge to
become, of course, ZipAudiDoDa.

5. Federal Express is expected to join its major competitor, UPS, and
become FedUp.

6. Fairchild Electronics and Honeywell Computers will become Fairwell
Honeychild.

7. Knotts Berry Farm and the Nat'l Org. of Women will become Knott NOW.

Well, the new copy of the Operating System arrived today. Rather than bringing it to the house, Airborne Express dropped it off at the mail box. I'm amazed it was still there when we picked up the mail.

This year is the 100th Anniversary of the Harley-Davidson Company, creators of an American icon. Harley's have a signature sound that other motorcycles can't seem to recreate, a deep rumble that announces you are in the presence of a HAWG.

Go visit the Parkway Rest Stop and read what James wrote on Thursday, August 28, titled "This is REALLY Weird." I tried it several times and it gave me goosebumps!

When I was studying music I took a course in Dalcroze, which is a method of music education which related physical movement to music. We spent some time learning to conduct conflicting meters, the simplest of which was to conduct two in the right hand and three in the left.

At the end of the session, the class went to a local bar and spent the evening on the dance floor, showing what we had learned. I have it on good authority that this kind of exercise will drive musicians crazy, as they play in one meter, and you move in a conflicting meter.

Musicians have strange senses of humor. Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Ti........

I just had a big bowl of Vanilla Swirl Ice Cream, or "squirrel" as my family fondly calls it. I rarely crave ice cream, and it's definitely not part of my diet, but this seemed like the perfect treat after spending large parts of the last twenty-four hours re-programming our computer.

It's not quite done. I have some Window's updates to double check, and then I need to install CD creator software. Our network is down, thanks to something I entered when I installed the O/S, so my stepson is contemplating how to get around that. I may even get the chance to use the scanner that comes with the Office Jet. I didn't realize what a dinosaur that thing is until I saw the program disks. It was originally intended to run on 3.1 or 95, so it's possible that it can't be updated to run the scanner. At least I have a fax/copier/printer running.

About a year ago, a tiny two month calendar program appeared in my taskbar. I LOVED it. I thought one of the kids had installed it, but they won't take the credit. Does anyone know where I can find software for that?

Back to ice cream.... I guess my all time favorite flavor is butter pecan in a waffle cone. I wait to order that at the places that carry the really sinful ice cream. I figure if I'm only going to eat ice cream on rare occasions, I might as well eat the stuff that's REALLY bad for you! I like raspberry sherbet, too, and anything that goes well with hot fudge! What's your favorite flavor?

I was visiting Bogie's blog, trying to catch up on some of my reading. Things have been hectic here so I'm several days behind on blogs. I was delighted to discover that she is a gardener. She's farther north than I am, so she's begining to get her gardens ready for winter. I have about a month to go before I start putting the gardens to bed. We'll be having a bridal shower here a week from today, and I want the grounds to look their best, so I've been spending a lot of time weeding, watering, feeding, pruning and generally cleaning up the grounds.

This is Dear Husband at the wheel of the Serenity. Doesn't he look right at home? When I suggested that he pose for a picture at the helm, it didn't take any encouraging. *G*

License Plates....

The "Q" Section of the Chicago Tribune, for Sunday, August, 31, has a story titled "All Is Vanity." Of course, it's about vanity license plates. It's incredible how clever people can be with seven letters or numbers.

These sixteen people have proclaimed their occupation with their license plate number. Can you tell their calling?

REVM UP 2
I SEDATE
NISE PKG
ONAROLL
RCYCLIT
IADDMUP
LF SAVR2
IFXWOOD
IFIXUM
I GTU FIT
BOOKWMN
SUPR BWL
NO PLAK
ELUMEN8
BIDNOFR
OH MISS

For the first time, we have reached the point where the average American household has more cars than registered drivers.

From the Chicago Tribune, Saturday, August 30:

"WASHINGTON -- For the first time, the typical American family has more vehicles in the garage than licensed drivers in the house.

There are about 107 million U.S. households, each with an average of 1.9 cars, trucks or sport-utility vehicles and 1.8 drivers, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics reported. That equals about 204 million vehicles and 191 million drivers."

And this isn't even counting the Harleys! No wonder houses come with two and three and four car garages these days.

I want to wish my friend Midnight a Happy Birthday! Sorry I can't be there to celebrate. I hope you've had a great time playing with those new Lie-Nielson planes. *S*

Happy Birthday, and many, many more!