No Guilt Trip

Off to the Fair

2010-09-25T09:12:00.002-04:00

It's the last fair of the season. Weather's turning cooler, trees are really changing. Last funnel cake, last carmel apple, last hurrah for the summer!

Talk about chapping my a**

2010-09-22T18:37:00.002-04:00

http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/special-report/transcript/who-went-sin-city-your-dime

This was on Special Report with Brett Baier, Fox News, and I quote:
Biting the Hand...

President Obama's aunt, who was recently granted asylum after it was discovered she had been living in the country illegally, is blaming the U.S. for its immigration problems.

Zietuni Onyango told a Boston TV station, "If I come as an immigrant, you have the obligation to make me a citizen." She also said she was assigned public housing despite her illegal status, saying, "I didn't take any advantage of the system. The system took advantage of me."

Are you KIDDING ME? And we wonder why this country is going to hell in a hand basket....this pretty much answers a big chunk of that question.

More Quilts!

2010-09-21T12:31:00.004-04:00

From traditional quilts, to avant garde...the work that goes into these, it's just amazing. My work is "hack" compared to these masterpieces.

More amazement

2010-09-20T17:52:00.004-04:00

I'm still getting over the fabulous quilts from the 2010 Philadelphia Quilt Show...the artistry was incredible.

2010 Philadelphia Quilt Show

2010-09-19T19:49:00.002-04:00

OMG. Once again, I was completely BLOWN AWAY by the quilts...or should I say works of art!

I'm so glad

2010-09-14T10:24:00.002-04:00

That our government is spending my hard earned money on "projects" like this. Tell me, exactly how many jobs did this "stimulate"?? How, exactly, is this helping our economy "recover"?? No wonder the American public is so outraged at Congress...me included.

Feds Spent $800,000 of Economic Stimulus on African Genital-Washing Program http://cnsnews.com/news/article/75198

WTF????????

What a beauty!

2010-09-13T21:30:00.003-04:00

I sit here, in jeans and a sweatshirt, remembering our trip to the Keys. The warmth, the sun, the smell of the ocean. Yeah, it was only a month ago, but...it was also a world away!

More Good News about Obama!

2010-09-12T09:20:00.001-04:00

US poverty on track to post record gain in 2009

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100911/ap_on_bi_ge/us_poverty_in_america

According to this article by HOPE YEN and LIZ SIDOTI, Associated Press Writers Sat Sep 11, 2:13 pm ET

WASHINGTON – The number of people in the U.S. who are in poverty is on track for a record increase on President Barack Obama's watch, with the ranks of working-age poor approaching 1960s levels that led to the national war on poverty.

And the hits just keep on coming!

Yes We Can!

2010-09-08T08:48:00.002-04:00

Take America Back! It's all over the news...

Even America's Liberal Elites Concede That Obama's Presidency is Crumbling

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/nilegardiner/100052779/even-americas-liberal-elites-concede-that-obamas-presidency-is-crumbling/

Sinking With Obama - Democrats Plan Political Triage

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/Sinking-with-Obama_-Democrats-plan-political-triage-772809-102390894.html

Obama Missing from Democrats' Campaign Ads

http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/09/08/campaign.ads/index.html

Rasmussen Daily Presidential Tracking Poll

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/daily_presidential_tracking_poll

And the list goes on...America's tired and fed up with this Administration, this President, this Congress. Harry Reid saying, "It's not my fault" just isn't cutting it. (http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/senate/harry-reid-i-had-nothing-to-do.html) We need our "leaders" to take responsibility, to make the right/hard decisions and put the country above their politics, above their "I'll do/say anything it takes to get re-elected" attitude.

November 2, 2010

I can't imagine why

2010-09-03T09:50:00.003-04:00

People would not (or don't) brush their teeth. If I go for more than 24 hours, my teeth feel like they've got moss growing on them, and it's nasty. Granted, you don't need to put 27 pounds of toothpaste on your brush, like they do on TV - the packaging actually says to use a "pea size" amount of toothpaste, but I guess the admen figure if you see a huge glob of toothpaste on the brush on TV, that's what your suppose to do. That way, you'll use up more toothpaste and then need to buy more. It's all in the marketing. If you've just got plain jacked up teeth...well, I can understand that. Orthodontist's are expensive. but you can still brush!

A Story

2010-09-02T19:06:00.002-04:00

While I was stationed in Germany back in the '80's I was standing by the telephone booth (remember those? They existed before the cel phone was invented), waiting my turn when this car comes to a stop across the street. This guy gets out, runs across the street, hands me a flower and says, "You're the prettiest girl I've ever seen." He runs back across the street, jumps back into the car and drives away. I never saw him again, and have no idea who he was. Wow. I don't know why, but I thought of that incident today...

Watches

2010-09-02T11:14:00.002-04:00

The Ol' Man is a big fan of watches...nice watches. My dad gave me a Rolex when I went overseas for the war, and we've accumulated a few others since. Brightling, Omega, Doxa. On the first of each month, we change watches so the other watches don't feel left out. Besides, why own great stuff if you're not going to use it, be it watches, china, clothes? Why leave that stuff in the drawer? If you buy something - use it! Enjoy it!

Beautiful Summer

2010-08-29T13:36:00.001-04:00

It's going to be in the high 80's today, so we're off to the beach! Need to enjoy the rest of the summer while it lasts...

And the Downward Spiral Continues...

2010-08-28T18:16:00.002-04:00

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/aug/27/summer-sizzles-economy-fizzles/

Excellent article from the Washington Times. Especially telling are the two paragraphs that respond to VP Biden's declaration that the country is going in the right direction:

"But what direction is that? Indicators that should be down are up, and those that should be up are down. The administration claims to have "saved" 3 million jobs, but this argument is losing traction as new claims for unemployment benefits continue to rise. Almost one in five American adults is either unemployed, underemployed or has lost hope. Gross domestic product (GDP) growth has declined since the end of 2009, and Friday's downward revision of second-quarter growth shows an economy on life support. New-home sales have fallen to the lowest pace on record, and despite historically low mortgage rates, prospective homebuyers lack enough confidence in the future to make long-term commitments. Meanwhile, more people are losing their home,s and Mr. Obama's plan to mitigate foreclosure has bogged down in red tape and administrative waste.

Since the "recovery summer" campaign kickoff, the stock market has declined, Treasury bond yields have tanked, the trade deficit has increased, manufacturing is down, non-farm productivity is down, durable goods orders are performing below expectations, the dollar is weaker, and retail sales have flatlined. "

Buy gold, bullets and move to a farm.

Wow...

2010-08-27T18:55:00.003-04:00

Could there be more bad news about the economy, the job market, the housing market, the stock market, and any other market you can think of? My only dread is that nothing will change, even if we "vote the bum's out" in November. Something tells me Washington will remain the same...time will tell.

And It Begins

2010-08-23T11:24:00.003-04:00

School started today...these last 2 classes and I'll graduate with my Masters in Professional Studies (MPS) in Human Resources and Employee Relations (HRER). What then? I haven't a clue....

I think it's official

2010-08-21T15:40:00.001-04:00

Fall is here, even though it's only August. The leaves are starting to fall off the trees, and it's getting "cooler"...gosh, the summer went fast....

Settling in

2010-08-18T20:27:00.002-04:00

Got all the food shopping done today - now we have plenty of fresh fruit, milk, peanuts, and cold cereal in the house. When we got back from the trip, the cupboards were pretty bare. We also got all the dive gear cleaned and stored, the laundry done, and the Hounds of the Baskervilles picked up from the kennel. So, it's back to "normalcy"...which isn't such a bad thing! I love our house, I love our puppers and I love the Ol' Man!

When the Party's Over...

2010-08-17T20:53:00.003-04:00

Just got back today from a 10 day dive trip to the Florida Keys. Had a slice of Key Lime Pie at every placed we stopped to eat. The best was actually at the Westin in Miami! You can order Key Lime pie on line for (get this) $69.95 for ONE PIE. And, that doesn't include shipping! I think I'll look up the recipe on line and try to make my own....$70 for a pie seems a little steep to me.

Ya know

2010-08-08T15:54:00.002-04:00

You just get use to things....like the Ol' Man having a beard. He just came down stairs, after having shaved off the majority of his beard. When I first met him, he had a beard, so that's how I always picture him. That's the guy I fell in love with...that face. I still love him with all my heart, but it's someone else...some other face looking at me, even though it's the same voice, same eyes. It takes a little getting use to...

My method of gardening

2010-08-07T11:42:00.001-04:00

Dig a small hole.
Deposit plant in hole.
Push dirt/mulch back around plant.
Water.
Hope it grows.

Material Girl

2010-08-05T11:08:00.002-04:00

http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2010/08/04/2010-08-04_material_girl_michelle_obama_is_a_modernday_marie_antoinette_on_a_glitzy_spanish.html

Our First Lady...I agree with the above article when the author says: "It's the extravagance of Michelle Obama's trip and glitzy destination contrasted with President Obama's demonization of the rich that smacks of hypocrisy and perpetuates a disconnect between the country and its leaders."

I, however, see it as a stretch in calling the Obama's our "leaders". This current administration is more dictatorship than leaders. What has become of our great country? When will it change? When will the "sleeping giant" truly awaken and go stomping across the country and make some real change? Stand by.

Frugal

2010-08-04T16:08:00.002-04:00

I've got a big, pump bottle of lotion that's pretty much empty. I've also got a bunch of smaller lotion bottles, all different smells (peppermint, pumpkin, cranberry). How bad would it be if I mixed all the little bottles into the big bottle? I mean, it's all lotion, right?

ObamaCare(less)

2010-08-03T13:26:00.006-04:00

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/tx08_brady/pr_100728_hc_chart.html

"AMERICA'S NEW HEALTH CARE SYSTEM REVEALED
UPDATED CHART SHOWS OBAMACARE'S BEWILDERING COMPLEXITY

Washington, D.C. - Four months after U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi famously declared "We have to pass the bill so you can find out what’s in it, "a congressional panel has released the first chart illustrating the 2,801 page health care law President Obama signed into law in March." And, boy, is it a mess! The first thing that came to my mind was, "You've got to be KIDDING". The second though was, "We're sooooooooooooooooooooooo screwed."

In addition to the above, the article also says, "In addition to capturing the massive expansion of government and the overwhelming complexity of new regulations and taxes, the chart portrays:

$569 billion in higher taxes;
$529 billion in cuts to Medicare;
swelling of the ranks of Medicaid by 16 million;
17 major insurance mandates; and
the creation of two new bureaucracies with powers to impose future rationing: the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute and the Independent Payments Advisory Board.

Brady admits committee analysts could not fit the entire health care bill on one chart. "This portrays only about one-third of the complexity of the final bill. It’s actually worse than this."

I feel so sick to my stomach...but there's little chance I'll be heading to the doctor's any time soon...

If I could've

2010-08-02T17:36:00.001-04:00

Done things differently 30 years ago, I would have 1) bought gold, 2) never gotten married 3 times, and 3) I would have had the hair on my legs lasered off. Do you have any idea how much of my life has been spent shaving my legs???

Poor Mr. Poo

2010-07-24T10:11:00.004-04:00

Mr. Poo barked at 0300 hrs this morning (I didn't hear him), and the Ol' Man told him to Shut Up...which was the wrong thing to do. The Hound of the Baskervilles doesn't normally bark at 0300, which should have been the first clue. Second clue should have been that the dog hasn't been feeling up to snuff lately. After a few minutes, the dog did "shut up"...and then hit the ghastly smell. On go the lights to illuminate the liquid poo all over the carpet. Yeah...we were up at O dark thirty trying to clean up, pardon the pun, a sh*tload of poo off the carpet. The dogs went into their crates (in the garage) for what was left of the night.

Fast forward to 0600. More barking from Mr. Poo. By now we know what that means. More liquid poo in the crate, which is better/easier to clean up than the carpet in the bedroom. However, being in the garage does not negate the fact that it still has to be cleaned up, and the dog needs a bath. Take him for a walk, more diarrhea and projectile vomiting.

Skip to 0900. Call the vet (thank the gods their open on Saturdays). Vet Shirley says not much she can do but give him some meds to control the diarrhea. Keep him quite, no food, plenty of water.

Poor Mr. Poo. Could it have been the peanuts? The pig ear? Some canine bug going around? He seems peppy enough now. We'll follow the vet's advice, medicate and keep him crated for a day or two. Stand by

I woul have liked to sleep in

2010-07-23T09:14:00.002-04:00

However, the lady Hound of the Baskervilles determined it was not to be so. Her pretty little face peeked over the side of the bed, and she informed me it was time to get up. She then proceeded to lick my face, in a way, I suppose, of apologizing for the rude interruption of my sleep. As sorry as she seemed to be, she still insisted that I get up. What that little lady wants, that little lady gets. I got up...earlier than I wanted to. It's probably not a terribly bad thing, though. I've got enough to do today anyway....

Death and Taxes...

2010-07-22T13:01:00.002-04:00

Or, maybe it's just taxes...

http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article.aspx?id=541131

This is a pretty eye-opening article on how the American public is going to be royally HOSED on taxes come 2011. The Titanic comes to mind once again...the water is GUSHING, and no one knows, yet, that the boat is going to sink. Well, we're going to find out soon enough...

My dogs

2010-07-22T11:46:00.004-04:00

My feet hurt, right heel to be specific. I've got a Dr's appointment today, so I hope I'll find out what the skinny is. I did some "research" on the Internet, and I came up with Plantar Fasciitis. I don't know if that's what it is...but maybe the doc will shed some light. I'll keep you updated.

Another great thing about Obamacare....

2010-07-21T11:45:00.004-04:00

MORE TAXES! MORE TAXES! MORE TAXES! MORE TAXES! MORE TAXES!

According to ABC - "Gold Coin Sellers Angered by New Tax Law
- Amendment Slipped Into Health Care Legislation Would Track, Tax Coin and Bullion Transactions"

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/gold-coin-dealers-decry-tax-law/story?id=11211611

Can anyone tell me what earthly connection buying and selling gold has with health care? No wonder this "slipped' through, seeing's how the "Health care legislation" was, what...2800(+) pages? You can't tell me that all those elected officials who voted Yes READ, much less UNDERSTOOD the legislation they were voting on.

I got an e-mail from my M-I-L that had a picture of a calendar page - November 2. The notation on the page was "Don't forget to take the trash out". Damn Skippy. We need to get rid of all incumbents...ALL incumbents.

Enough already with more and MORE and MORE taxes! I'm a FAIR TAX proponent...check it out: http://www.fairtax.org/site/PageServer

Update on Mr. Poo

2010-07-20T13:08:00.002-04:00

The vet was perplexed. She couldn't say what the matter with him was. He's peppy and back to his old self. She said it wasn't Lyme (otherwise he would have still been "sick") - she took his temp (normal), checked his tummy and joints, etc., and he got an OK. She said it might have been something he ate, the heat, or just a bug. Anyhoo...his tail's riding high and he's playing with Perle Ray. His appetite is back to normal. Whew...!

Poor Puppers

2010-07-20T08:58:00.002-04:00

The Hound of the Baskervilles caught Lyme disease from a tick last year...pretty scary stuff. Last night, it seemed like he had a recurrence. Poor Puppers...he could barely walk, had liquid poo, and didn't want to eat anything. I called the emergency Vet, and he said keep him quiet, and call your vet in the morning. The HOB was much better this am, but still not his peppy self, so I called our vet and have an appointment at 10:45. I don't know if Lyme is a recurring/remission kind of disease, but I know that once dogs have it, it's in their system forever. Poor Mr. Poo...he was moving like he was 100 years old with arthritis...it broke my heart. I'm glad he's doing better this morning, but he's still going to the vet. Makes me think about when he gets "old". Rotties only live about (max) 10 (ish) years...it's going to be so sad when he dies. One of the pitfalls of owning a pet, I suppose....

Fat Report

2010-07-19T08:59:00.005-04:00

Have y'all heard? The US Government is, under the new rules of the stimulus law (not even the ridiculous Health care Overhaul!), going to now "monitor" your fat.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/07/17/feds-monitor-obesity-white-house-promotes-obama-cook-senior-position/

According to a Fox news article (see above), "the Health and Human Services announced this week that under the stimulus law, health care providers must establish "meaningful use" of electronic health records to qualify for federal subsidies or risk seeing their Medicare and Medicaid payments slashed. The electronic health records must include Americans' body mass index, or BMI, height and weight."

Pardon my French, but, WTF??? What EARTHLY business is it of Uncle Sam how much I weigh? Oh, yeah, since the Government is taking over everything, distributing everything, controlling everything, they need to KNOW everything...including my weight. That way, they can tell me I can't have X or Y or Z because I weigh too much. Or that my insurance will cost 12x more because I'm overweight. Or I'm not allowed to buy Twinkies.

They've taken over health care, finances (yeah, that passed with little fanfare, unfortunately), they're working on climate control (and you can only vaguely imagine how that's going to spread it's magic fingers into every aspect of our lives from what kind of car you can drive to what kind of deodorant you can buy...). I just wonder, even if the voters "kick the bums out" in November, if this stuff can be reversed. Can this country change course? I should imagine it's going to be like trying to turn the Titanic before it hits the iceberg...or have we already hit it and only the mechanics down in the depths of the ship know the real damage? Let the orchestra play on....

Wal-Mart People

2010-07-18T10:11:00.003-04:00

I don't know how many of you have received the 'Wal-mart People" e-mail,...the one with pictures of, well, just plain every-day folk who shop at Wal-mart. You can check out the website here: http://www.peopleofwalmart.com/ Judge not, least we be judged...but, holy cow! Do some of these folks even look in a mirror before the go out the door? I have to admit, I don't always dress to the 9's when I walk out the door, but I am presentable. The Wal-mart people who dress, shall we say, "differently" may live in their own world and have their own sense of fashion - which is fine by me. I don't have a problem with folks who march to a different drummer. It's the folks who have body parts (or just body!) hanging out, who are dirty, or sweaty, barefoot or wearing clothes 3 sized too small that I have an issue with. What has become of our society that makes it acceptable to go shopping in your underwear? The economy isn't the only thing going down the toilet these days...

Tango Uniform

2010-07-17T10:17:00.002-04:00

One of our computers went "Tango Uniform" (that's "tits up" in military lingo!), and the other one is on it's last legs. Since both the Ol' Man and I are going back to school (both of us on-line) next month, I figured I'd have to pry the locks off the check book and buy a new one. I shopped around and found one on sale at BestBuy for $300. Nothing fancy, but enough to do the job. When I got to the store, they only had 3 left, and all 3 had been pre-installed by the GeekSquad, for the low, low price of $69.99. I told the sales girl that I didn't want that, but I guess I was stuck...she said, yeah...so I asked her if she could cut me a break. She talked to her manager and came back with, "We'll deduct $70 from the price of the computer"...which was basically giving me the computer for $300 (the sale price), and throwing in the pre-loaded/installed stuff free. I was good with that. Now, all I have to do is re-load all my favorites!

Cheating

2010-07-16T11:40:00.001-04:00

I made some homemade raisin/cinnamon bread in the bread maker. It was a different recipe than I usually use, and I can't say I'm too thrilled...it's too dry. I also made some cheesecake lemon bars, which turned out fab...but I cheated - I used a box mix. Is that bad of me?

Cooking Shrimp Scampi

2010-07-15T15:25:00.001-04:00

According to the cookbook, you're suppose to broil it in the oven. I have to say, that sure creates a LOT of smoke! Tasted damn good, though...

Chocolate Pudding

2010-07-14T14:21:00.003-04:00

I had this chocolate pudding recipe...made with honey. I thought I'd give it a try as it seemed fairly simple and "healthy" (as healthy as chocolate pudding can be, I suppose). It turned out really smooth...but, you could taste the honey. Not that it's a bad thing, but my taste buds just arn't use to chocolate pudding with a hint of honey. The Ol' Man wasn't diggin' it too much, so I guess that recipe will go in the trash.

Combat Apron

2010-07-13T11:05:00.004-04:00

The Ol' Man's favorite color is Milspec Multicam. I made cooking aprons for the boys a while back, and the boys decided you can't be a 'real' cook unless you wear an apron. The Ol' Man does all the grilling, and the boys decided he needed an apron...however, there was no way he was going to wear a "girly" apron...he wanted one made from Multicam (of course). I searched all over for Multicam, and could only find it on line, in a 5 yard bolt! Pricy, too...but, nothing's too good for the Ol' Man and the boys, so...here I go. Since I've got so much material, I decided to make 4 aprons. One for the Ol' Man, and 3 others for his best friends. I'm sure they'll get a big kick out of the manly-Multicam-grill aprons! I'm not quite finished yet...I've got to add beer holders (of course), as well as loops to hold grill tongs and other implements of destruction! The material is kinda weird...it's like it's plastic coated/waterproofy.

4th of July

2010-07-12T15:15:00.002-04:00

While it's not exactly a "quilt", I made some placemats. My M-I-L is the kind of lady who has decorations for every occasion/holiday. She did not, however, have any placemats/table runner for the 4th of July. Horror! So, I decided to make some for her...and I made a few extra for us. I know now why I dislike the applique...what a pain in the rear those stars were! Especially since I used gold thread...remind me never to to a project again with gold thread! That stuff gave me fits!

Salad

2010-07-11T14:01:00.004-04:00

I had a fresh spinach salad with cucumbers, tomatoes and strawberries with Catalina dressing for lunch. I had vanilla yogurt with granola and blackberries for breakfast. I think more fresh fruit is on the menu for dinner. One of the wonderful things about summer!

Keep your fingers crossed

2010-07-10T20:12:00.001-04:00

I bought a Millionare Raffle ticket, and the drawing is tonight.......

Yes, We Can!

2010-07-09T09:59:00.003-04:00

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2010/07/08/jon-kraushar-obama-republicans-yes-laws-tax-cuts-spending/

I like this article...especially this part:

"Fair enough. Republicans can counter that they are actually “the Party of yes,” offering an alternative to Obama’s failed agenda.

Republicans can say:

• Yes to consumer-controlled spending and no to government out-of-control spending.
• Yes to stimulating civilian jobs and no to stimulating government jobs.
• Yes to wealth creation by private citizens and no to wealth redistribution by government confiscation.
• Yes to enforcing existing laws and no to forcing new big government laws.
• Yes to free market exchanges and no to government controlled exchanges.
• Yes to tax cuts and tax simplification and no to tax increases and IRS complication.
• Yes to individual responsibility and no to bureaucratic irresponsibility.
• Yes to fair deals in an open labor market and no to sweetheart deals for unions.
• Yes to incentives for growth-seeking small businesses and entrepreneurs and no to special favors for bailout-seeking, mismanaged businesses and government enterprises.
• Yes to free trade and no to trade protectionism.
• Yes to returning America to its Constitutional roots and no to turning America into a European welfare state."

Now, that's the kind of change I can believe in!

Toy Story

2010-07-08T13:07:00.004-04:00

They just don't make toys like they use to. The Ol Man buys the kids the "action figures", and within about 5 minutes, the heads are off. They're not the most expensive things on the planet, but, yeesh... No wonder they say for 5+ years; those heads could get stuck in a throat pretty easily. I don't remember Barbie's head ever popping off that easily, or Johnny West's head. It kinda creeps me out.

Drive Safely

2010-07-07T09:16:00.002-04:00

www.metacafe.com/watch/yt-az1smQMWHYk/drive_safely/

Excellent video, great song. Shows the awful consequences of not paying attention while driving (too fast, angry, distracted, texting, etc...)

I don't have a problem with stupid people dying, but it bugs the crap outta me when they take the innocent with them.

Saving $$$$

2010-07-06T16:01:00.002-04:00

Just went to the grocery store...saved 27%! The goal is to save at least 25% - using coupons, taking advantages of sales, etc. Our grocery store has the "spend $X and you save $X on gas"...I've saved so much, I'm getting $1 off on gas! Hey, it's the little things, right?

Beach Weather

2010-07-06T09:28:00.004-04:00

Weather's been smoking hot the past few days, and the heat wave will continue for a few more...which is fine with me. I love the hot weather. Took the kids to the beach and to an amusement/water park. They had a blast. We'll be heading back to the beach today.

America's future....

2010-07-05T08:25:00.001-04:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/03/business/economy/03illinois.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&ei=5065&partner=MYWAY&adxnnlx=1278331400-MrX9me6rEKlAY1AIjcTfyg

Excellent article on Illinois' financial mess/meltdown. Can the Federal Government be that far behind?

Happy birthday, America!

2010-07-04T20:18:00.003-04:00

Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday, dear America!
Happy Birthday to you!

Showing

2010-07-02T13:13:00.002-04:00

We've got a showing on the house today....a whopping 4 hours notice, which spun the Ol' Man out of control. We've told the realtor, time and time again, that we want/require 24 hour notice. We live in our house, and it's not "dirty", but it does get dusty, dishes in the sink, laundry, etc. - it's not "showroom" ready at all times. The Ol' Man considers it pretty damn rude when we ask for 24 hours notice, and the other Realtors blow that off. Our realtor tell them 24 hours notice, but..it's a buyer's market, so, what can ya do? Clean up the house, that's what. Keep your fingers crosses these folks put in a bid...

Eyesballs and butt holes

2010-07-01T11:45:00.004-04:00

So, I'm cleaning out the litter box, and the Younger is feeding the kitties (his chore). He says the kitties must have big butt holes, because of their poop. He then proceeds to inform me that HIS butt hole is as big as his eyeball, showing me how big his eyeball is by stretching his eyelids. Learn something new everyday, eh?

SmartyPig

2010-06-30T10:02:00.002-04:00

https://www.smartypig.com/

What a GREAT way to save!! SmartyPig is a free online piggy bank for people saving for specific financial goals like a wedding, a vacation or a flat-screen TV. You get 2.15% on your money - which beats the hell outta a bank's savings account! You can set up specific goals and dates, and SmartyPig will automatically deduct the $ from your savings/checking account...you don't have to do a thing but set it up. You can get your money back three different ways - on a gift card (where you get bonus $ - which would work great for Christmas!), on a debit card, or deposited back into your bank account. It shows you the progress, and you have control - you can stop it when ever, change the amounts or dates.

Check it out!

Summer time

2010-06-29T17:57:00.001-04:00

I love summer. I love the heat, the sun, the long days. So there.

Fair Time

2010-06-27T09:25:00.002-04:00

Summer is officially here...we attended the first fair of the season. I love those wrist bands that allow the kids to ride as many rides as they want...what a godsend. I think the boys "rode" the funhouse about 35 times, the bouncy castle about 40 and the big slide at least a dozen.

Happy Anniversary

2010-06-26T10:19:00.002-04:00

The Ol' Man and I are coming up on 5 years together in August. He bought us a new Nikon camera for our anniversary gift. He bought it now because 1) after hours of research, he found the camera he wanted, and it was on sale, and 2) we can use the camera to capture summer-with-the-boys pictures. Now, I just need to learn how to use it...according to the advertisement, it takes "incredible pictures" and is "incredibly easy"...we'll see...right now, I'm just trying to figure out how to upload the software!!!

Here we go AGAIN

2010-06-25T19:53:00.003-04:00

From today's Wall Street Journal,(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/25/AR2010062500675_pf.html)regarding the banking bill: "a teary-eyed Sen. Christopher J. Dodd (D-Conn.), who as chairman of the Senate Banking Committee led the effort in the Senate. "No one will know until this is actually in place how it works. But we believe we've done something that has been needed for a long time. It took a crisis to bring us to the point where we could actually get this job done." The Honorable Mr. Dodd also opined, "This is about as important as it gets, because it deals with every single aspect of our lives," said Sen. Christopher Dodd (D., Conn.), a chief architect of the compromise." (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703615104575328020013164184.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_LEADNewsCollection)

Are you F'ing KIDDING ME? "No one will know" how it works even though it will deal with EVERY SINGLE ASPECT OF OUR LIVES??? What's wrong with that picture? Images of Health Care "reform", anyone?

The first article goes on to say, "...the legislation would establish broad new oversight of the financial system. A new consumer protection bureau housed in the Federal Reserve would have independent funding, an independent leader and near-total autonomy to write and enforce rules. The government would have broad new powers to seize and wind down large, failing financial firms and to oversee the $600 trillion derivatives market." Yeah, that's just what I want...more government. Can anyone tell me where the $ is going to come from to fund this new "consumer protection bureau"?

How much longer is this country going to last before it's totally destroyed by the politicians?

You Might Be A Redneck...

2010-06-24T19:15:00.002-04:00

If your Ol' Man shoots a coyote, then hangs the skin on the wall above your quilt frame....

Hot Dogs

2010-06-23T16:45:00.003-04:00

When I do obedience training with the Hounds of the Baskervilles, I use hot dogs as rewards. I get them from Aldi (a "generic" food store) and they're only 75cents (where's the cent key on the keyboard??)for a pack of 8...which, actually, is considerably cheaper than dog treats, and they LOVE them. However, by the end of training, my hands are slimy with dog drool and hot dog schmeg. Lovely.

A House

2010-06-22T17:02:00.006-04:00

Abe Lincoln in his speech on June 18, 1858, at the Republican State Convention, and Jesus (Matthew 12:25) said it best, "A house divided against itself cannot stand." How much longer will this house stand? This Administration is doing it's best to tear this nation apart, and I can't, for the life of me, understand why.

1 - Suing Arizona, slamming them, verses tackling the problem, standing beside them, supporting them and helping them with the Illegal Alien problem; playing politics with the whole mess

2 - Taking from the "have's" to give to the "have-not's" (Anyone actually read the 2800+ health care "overhaul"?). I read that taxes are going to have to increase to help "pay" for it...although I seem to remember Congress saying that the overhaul was going to cut the deficit....HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA!

3 - Failing to actually DO something about the oil spill (gee...it's STILL gushing over 60,000+ a DAY, and we're heading into day 64!!!!!), not to mention strong-arming BP and appointing a...claims czar (?) to hand out BP's money. This is not what I want my government to be doing.

4 - Anyone in the least bit concerned about our National Debt? $13+ TRILLION dollars that our elected leaders have no idea how to pay off. Not to mention that Congress has decided that they're not going to be able to pass a budget this year....

5 - How about the Economy? Unemployment is still over 9% (says the US Government). I suspect it's a lot higher. I'm waiting for the "double dip" to hit the fan....

When was the last time you read any national good news? When is this madness going to end? November 2010? 2012?

The MIL

2010-06-21T19:18:00.002-04:00

The Mother-In-Law (MIL) is coming for a visit next week. She is, truly, the Queen of the Pie Crust. The Recipe was passed down from Grandma (and, Grandma won't let you forget that). I've mastered the making of the Crust, however, I'm still struggling with getting it formed in the pie tin. There will be a "pie symposium" when the MIL arrives. I will learn the secret.

Hamburger

2010-06-20T14:39:00.003-04:00

I just finished up with 5 continuous days of Motorcycle Safety. Spending 5-6 hours on the range/asphalt makes my feet feel like hamburger. Unfortunately, the RiderCoaches don't get to do all that much riding; we stand around watching the students ride. There's quite a bit of walking too...and when it's 85+ outside, the pavement gets pretty hot. I need some Dr. Scholls Gel inserts!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

2010-06-19T16:03:00.002-04:00

To my DAD, and my Ol' Man. Dad's are very special people...and I've been blessed - twice! I've got a great Dad, and the Ol' Man is a fabulous father to the boys. I love you both!

The Hunt for the End of Red October

2010-06-18T10:38:00.003-04:00

It's 1991. I'm in Saudi Arabia, it's the War - Desert Storm. It was the days of VCR tapes and snail mail. We're all sitting in the MWR (Morale, Welfare and Recreation) tent, and someones wife sent a tape with The Hunt For Red October recorded on it. We're all sitting, engrossed in the movie, and about 10 minutes till the end, when the climax is hitting high gear......the tape ends. Just like that, it's over and we have no earthly idea how it ends! There was a huge groan that emitted from the crowd, and we all walked out, terribly disappointed. There was no Internet available for us to find out the end...we were lost.

Fast forward to 2010. The Ol' Man and I are flipping through the channels, and, lo and behold, what's on? The Hunt for Red October...Sean Connery in all his glory and Alex Baldwin looking young and handsome. We snuggle on the couch, and it begins to rain (thunder and lightning, to boot!) - WAIT FOR IT - just as we get within about 10 minutes from the end...we loose the satellite feed. AAAARRRGGGHHHH...could this really be happening? History repeating itself?

I think I've waited long enough. I'm ordering it from Netflix today. I will see the end! Nothing can stop me now.

They're not our friends

2010-06-15T10:18:00.004-04:00

http://www.answeringmuslims.com/2010/05/of-mosques-and-men-reflections-on.html

This video explains very well what our future will be if we refuse to acknowledge the Muslim threat. The sooner America wakes up and realizes it, the better off we'll be. I am not, however, going to hold my breath. I love America, and it hurts my heart to see the direction it's going. From the abject failure of our government to control spending (National Debt edging towards $14 TRILLION - anyone have any idea's on how to pay that back?) and our borders (Arizona, anyone?), to over-the-top political correctness (say/do anything that MAY offend anyone else....HORRORS) to ecological disasters like the gulf oil spill (those pictures of the birds covered in oil just break my heart), and I think it's only a matter of time before we self destruct...and I think that time is growing shorter and shorter. Reminds me of the old "doomsday clock" who's hands inch closer and closer to midnight.

Where's the outrage when they want to build a mosque at Ground Zero? Where's the outrage when Nancy Pelosi spends $18+k a month on rent, paid for, thank you very much, by the American Taxpayer (http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/06/14/pelosis-new-district-office-reportedly-costs-month/?test=latestnews) Where's the outrage when the Obama Administration is looking to take over another industry? (http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/06/15/administration-oil-spill-damage-claims-white-house-says/) When are Americans going to take America back before we wake up and find Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness has been replaced by Sharia Law and Government Control Of Everything? I just wonder if that will be the result of America's financial crash.

Sometimes, I get so tired of the madness in the world...I just want to bury my head in the sand...but I can't. So, I do what I can...make phone calls to my elected representatives, try to get the word out and encourage others to do the same...to take a stand.

Of all the nerve...

2010-06-14T17:19:00.003-04:00

Chipmunk #1 and #2 had the good sense to die quickly...the took the peanut bait, and got their little heads snapped. A quick, painless death. Chipmunk #3 (and, possibly #4?) is not so accommodating. The little bugger has the nerve to dance across the deck, while thumbing his nose at us! No peanuts for him, no peanut butter either. It's getting close to the Ol' Man calling for the jihad.

Didya Ever?

2010-06-13T14:26:00.003-04:00

Squeeze a tube, and there's a blockage that suddenly becomes "unblocked" and what ever's in the tube comes squirting out? And I'm talkin' about glue...not the other "tube"! I did that with a tube of Super Glue and almost got my finger's stuck together, not to mention almost sticking the rubber cushion thingy I was gluing to the counter, instead of on the inside of the cabinet, where it belongs. Next time I need something "fixed", I'm calling the Ol' Man....

Is it me?

2010-06-12T15:24:00.001-04:00

Or does the cat look like a fat baby seal?

Black Ribbon

2010-06-11T12:36:00.004-04:00

While I'm a firm believer in destiny, it doesn't make it any easier when one of our own dies. We lost another friend in Iraq, and it makes my heart hurt. "Only those who have died have seen the end of war." (Plato) Farewell, "Pedro", and we'll see you on the other side.

Rats

2010-06-09T16:24:00.003-04:00

I've got to teach a motorcycle safety class tonight and it's raining...it's been raining all day. A lovely, lawn soaking, steady rain. I don't ride in the rain unless I have to, and tonight is a night I'm going to "have to". Rats.

4th of July

2010-06-08T22:56:00.002-04:00

I'm going to make a table runner and place mats for my mother-in-law for the 4th of July. She's the kind of person who has every decoration for every holiday...but (gasp!) she doesn't have a 4th of July table runner or place mats! How could that have happened? Never fear, I will come to the rescue and, with love and affection, create beautiful place mats and a table runner for her bare, un-patriotic table. Ok, I'll fess up...it's a reason to buy fabric! Off to the store tomorrow to peruse isles and isles of wonderful cloth.

Home Again

2010-06-07T18:56:00.004-04:00

Just got back from a trip to see the folks...Grandpa had his 83 (? 84?) birthday. I should be so lucky to last that long, be that healthy, and have that many family and friends that love me. Oh, and the chocolate cake was FANTASTIC.

Cheesecake

2010-06-02T11:41:00.003-04:00

So, there's this cheese cake shop here, and they make FABULOUS cheese cake. I, however, decided to give baking a cheese cake a try. There's this website (allrecipies.com) that I use all the time...it's got TONS of recipes, and they're rated by the members. I searched cheesecake, sorted the recipes by rating and came up with the top rated cheesecake recipe. I made the graham cracker crust in the springform pan, made the filling exactly according to the directions (almost), poured the filling in the pan, looked over on the counter, and saw the 3/4 cup of milk I was suppose to put in the filing sitting there, saying to me, "Ahem....what about me???" AAACCCKKKK! The instructions were very specific in that you were not suppose to scrape the side of the bowl or the mixer blades because the filling is suppose to be perfectly creamy with NO LUMPS. So, I proceeded to pour the filling back into the bowl, and, of course, a big glob of the graham cracker crust plops into the bowl with the filling. There was still quite a bit of the filling left in the pan, but there was no way I was going to be able to try to scrape any more back into the mixing bowl, so I let it go. I then proceed to carefully scrape out the crumbs and added the forgotten milk, mixing carefully so as not to create too many lumps. I baked according to directions, and believe it or not, it came out PERFECT. Even better than the cheesecake shop! I mean, it was the perfect, creamy texture, the flavor was out of this world...I'll try it again, and next time, I'll make sure I add the milk!

Bless our Troops

2010-05-31T12:52:00.002-04:00

Memorial Day...I honor and remember all the troops (past, present and future) that have given us the freedoms we enjoy today. Thank you...from the bottom of my heart.

Question

2010-05-26T18:28:00.004-04:00

In public restrooms, why do they put the toilet paper dispenser so low? The mega-double-roll that's encased behind plastic, and where the toilet paper comes out, at the bottom, is about 3 inches from the floor. So, while you're sitting there, already pretty low to the ground, you have to bend over to try to get the toilet paper started (because it's always hidden inside the plastic case), and then, of course, the toilet paper breaks after about 1 or two sheets, and you have to start all over again. Why can't they hang the plastic case higher on the wall? Is that too much to ask???

Frugal

2010-05-25T17:27:00.006-04:00

So, it's actually nice here today - in the (gasp!) 80's! Being the frugalitarian (I just made that word up), I like to hang my clothes outside to dry naturally. It saves on electricity from the dryer, makes your clothes last longer and I just love the way they smell, dried by the sun. I take full advantage of this method during the spring/summer/fall, when the weather allows. The Ol' Man thinks it's kinda "trashy" to have laundry hanging out, and he's not thrilled with the "scratchy-ness". Instead of having a "real" clothes line in the back yard, we compromised with the chumpie on the back deck - that way, it's "hidden" from the world (per se), and I still get to hang the clothes outside. With the prices of everything going through the roof, you've got to cut where you can. Besides, drying clothes "the old fashioned way" worked for years before dryers were invented. Next, making my own butter!

Panting

2010-05-24T19:00:00.002-04:00

Just took the dogs around the block for a evening stroll. It's about 1 mile around the block, it's a nice evening (partly cloudy, around 70), and the dogs are laying around panting like they've run a marathon. Then again, they are wearing black fur coats, so they've got an excellent excuse.

Finished

2010-05-12T11:16:00.004-04:00

I finished the Civil War quilt. Made a nice lap quilt. I'm going to make an effort to work on the Africa quilt. Today, however, I'm going to make a shortbread crust Avocado Lime cheesecake. I bought several avocado's for our Cinco de Mayo dinner, and I had two left over. I wanted to do something different, so I found a recipe for the avocado cheesecake. It sounded different, so...why not?

Sloppy Joes

2010-04-05T18:09:00.000-04:00

For dinner. Homemade from scratch...cause I'm good like that.

Money, Money, Money, Money, Money....

2010-04-04T12:52:00.003-04:00

I saw an interview with this smart guy, and he gave this analogy regarding the national debt, which, by the way, is $12,764.878,911,618.18. (www.treasurydirect.gov). With all the media coverage, a trillion is the "new" million. People don't appreciate how much a trillion is. Think of it this way....a MILLION seconds would take about 12 days to elapse. A TRILLION seconds would take 31,000 YEARS to elapse! AND, we are accruing $500 million a DAY in interest on our $12 TRILLION debt. The Obama administration plans on increasing the debt $1.5 TRILLION A YEAR FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS. How much longer do you think America can continue? We're all ready broke....it's going to be time to pay the piper, and there's no money in the kitty...We're screwed.

Walking, Walking, Walking

2010-04-03T13:01:00.002-04:00

I got a pedometer....that little things that counts your steps. The goal is to walk 5,000 steps a day, which is a lot harder than one might think. I walked 5, 840 on Thursday, and 6,175 yesterday. The only reason I made my goal was because I walked the dogs around the block (which is a mile!), twice on Thursday, and three times yesterday. Thank the Gods the weather's nice! I would have thought walking up and down the stairs doing laundry took more than 50 steps...

The Gods are Smiling

2010-04-02T11:49:00.004-04:00

The weather is beautiful, and spring is in the air. The plants are starting to sprout, the grass is getting green, the trees are coming alive. Thank the Gods...I was so tired of winter...May Demeter bless us with a wonderful spring and summer! To learn more about the Greek Gods, check out this website: www.greekmythology.com We've got the boys this weekend, and I've kicked them outside to play...it's way too nice to be inside. The Younger's birthday is tomorrow, so we'll be baking a cake. White cake with blueberry filling and whipped cream topping and strawberries...what can you say, the kid's going to be 6 and he gets to pick out the cake. He'll also get his training wheels off tomorrow...that should be fun! My heart is just happy - I need sunshine!

I'm Baaaaaaack!

2010-04-01T11:12:00.002-04:00

Ok, all my adoring fans have been clamoring for my return, so I'm back. The weather's finally breaking - it's suppose to be in the 70's today, and my spirits are soaring. We got the bikes out of hibernation, and, after several attempts, got them both started. Mine, being 20 years old, took a little coaxing...! The house is up for sale, and we found some FABULOUS property closer to the Ol' Man's work site. We're planning on building a log home. It'll probably take about a year and a half before it's all said and done. But, once it's completed, it'll be beautiful. Of course, first things first, we need to sell this place. With the housing market as it is, that might take a while. Keep your fingers crossed.

The Pesants are Revolting!

2010-03-13T09:38:00.004-05:00

http://www.onlinetaxrevolt.com/

If we all join together, we can make a difference. It doesn't cost anything, it only takes a few minutes of your time, and it's important. Check it out!

Crossword Puzzles

2010-03-07T13:43:00.002-05:00

I'm not a rabid crossword puzzle fan, but I do enjoy doing them. I usually limit my crossword puzzles to the one's that are in the paper. I don't buy specific crossword puzzle books. The Ol' Man and I do them together, and we work pretty good as a team. I'll start, and do as much as I can, then pass it to him. He'll fill in as much of the rest as he can, then we'll work together to finish. Simple, really, and it's just one of those things that we like to do together. He's also fantastic about working together getting dinner ready and cleaning up. After several marriages (on both our sides), it's so nice to find a really fantastic guy. When we first started going out, he said that his "normal" relationships were all dysfunctional, so our relationship, being "functional" was really "dysfunctional" because it was such a dramatic transformation from his previous relationships! That's a good thing. When it works, it really works.

Coffee

2010-02-28T13:19:00.004-05:00

I didn't start drinking coffee until I was in my 30's. I had a late start. The only time I had ever tried coffee, it was harsh, bitter, so I didn't bother. Then, I had a fabulous friend who introduced me to the wonderful world of Java. It was when I was stationed in Germany, and the Base Exchange had just opened a coffee shop. He bought me a hazelnut latte and I've been hooked ever since. It didn't taste like the coffee I had in the past, it tasted more like CANDY! Had I but known the joys of coffee earlier. I'm not a black coffee drinker...but a flavor coffee drinker. I'm currently enjoying a hot cup of chocolate truffle gourmet coffee from Folgers. Bless their hearts. I also like chocolate raspberry (why don't you pronounce the 'p'?), and vanilla biscottie. I do like hearty roasts and I take cream and sugar, thank you. I think of coffee as grown up chocolate milk. I can't say I'm addicted...but I sure do love it and don't particularly like starting my day with out it. Oh, yeah...it stopped snowing, but there's plenty of white stuff on the ground. The Ol' Man returns today from his "man time"...I'm sure glad he'll be home soon!

Question

2010-02-27T14:10:00.002-05:00

When you burn your tongue when you drink something hot, why doesn't it blister?

My Life In Hell - Day 2

2010-02-26T10:01:00.003-05:00

I took the dogs out for a final (2) walks last night, and fell both times. I then proceeded to go to bed at 2100hrs (9:00pm). Thank the Gods, the dogs let me sleep till about 0830 this morning, and I woke up to more snow. And it's still snowing at 1005. I had to shovel a path from the front door down the driveway just so I could walk the dogs. The nice neighbor said he'll use the snow thrower later to do the whole thing properly. One of my girlfriends sent me a joke e-mail, "The diary of a Snow Shoveler"...basically, this guy loves the first snow, and becomes more and more cranky as the winter drags on. Needless to say, by the end of winter, he ends up in the nut house. We've got so much snow here, I don't think the nut house people are going to be able to make it to the house to cart me away. The Ol' Man will come home around August and find that I have been eaten by the dogs.

My Life In Hell

2010-02-25T17:53:00.003-05:00

It started snowing last night, it's snowed all day, and it's not suppose to stop snowing till June, I think. There's about 80 feet of snow on the ground, and, thank the gods, my next-door neighbor used his snow thrower to do the driveway - not that I'm going to drive anywhere anytime soon. The Ol' Man is out with his buddies doing manly things and won't be home till Sunday, at which time I'm sure the house will be entirely buried under 1,000 feet of snow. Since he's not here, I have to walk the dogs. Since The Hound of the Baskervilles had his nuts cut off yesterday, I have to be very careful with him - no running, no stairs, no play with the Baby...which means I have to walk the dogs separately, making twice the work. I've taken them out for a walk twice (that being 4 trips total), and I've fallen 3 times and had 2 damn-near spills. At least I've got enough milk.

I did it

2010-02-23T20:36:00.002-05:00

I stuck the Q-Tip all the way into my ear canal, and I didn't die! I had heard, once, that a Dr. said your ear is like a self cleaning oven, and that was why you didn't need to stick a Q-Tip in your ear canal. But, my reasoning is that even a self cleaning oven needs the gunk wiped out from inside after it "self cleans". Hence, I must clean out my self cleaning ears with a Q-Tip. Besides, it feels sooooooooooooooo good.

I buy things on sale

2010-02-22T14:07:00.002-05:00

I look through the flyers and find stuff on sale. Grapes for $.99, Italian sausage for $2.50 a pound. I also go on line to sites like P&G or Johnson & Johnson and find coupons for stuff that we use. We also eat leftovers...mostly for lunch. I just hate wasting stuff, be it food or money. I'm also thinking about using the extra cat, dog and my hair from our brushes to make blankets. I'm trying to think of a use for the cinders from the fireplace, if anyone has any suggestions...

Sunday

2010-02-21T15:13:00.001-05:00

If we didn't have the dogs, I would have slept till about noon. With the dogs, however, that is not possible. I must kill the dogs.

I'm a WINNER!

2010-02-20T18:23:00.004-05:00

The local quilt shop had a "Notions Commotion" event today. A rep from one of the ruler companies was there to show off some new gadgets. I won a door prize! They also had munchies as well as giving each visitor a fat quarter (a swatch of fabric). Pretty cool. The boys went to the Monster Truck Jam. So, a fun day was had by all!

"United" States?

2010-02-19T10:28:00.003-05:00

Are we really the "United" States of America anymore? This country is so fractured. When did that happen? When did it become acceptable to be a Mexican-, African-, Latino-American instead of an AMERICAN first? When did we become less of a "melting pot" and more of a "salad bowl"? Why do we stand by and allow our elected officials to use our money to bail out specific entities (AIG, Detroit, etc), while we drown our children in red ink? What happened to pride in a hard days work versus entitlement? What happened to the rights of "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness"? Health care isn't a right. We can't expect the "haves" to support the "have-not's" by force...that's Socialism. America is a Republic. American's are individuals and need to take responsibility...not default everything to the government. It's time to stop blaming everything on someone else. But the question remains...how do we turn it around?

Ouch...

2010-02-17T16:34:00.002-05:00

I took the dogs for a "walk"...wait a minute, let me rephrase that. The dogs dragged me around the block today. Of course, there's still a ton of snow on the ground, and at one point, they took off, and I got jerked off balance, fell on my face, and bruised up my knee. But I didn't let go of the leashes! Yeah, the fun never stops here!

Poor Mr. Poo

2010-02-16T15:57:00.004-05:00

Mr. Poo will never know the joys of fatherhood. We got his OFA hip results back today, and he didn't pass. The x-rays showed slight hip dysplaisa...which means he's a no go for breeding. So, it's time to call the vet and have his manhood removed. He's still our Mr. Poo, and we still love him very much!

Noooooooooooooooooooo!

2010-02-15T09:54:00.002-05:00

The radio just said we're to expect ANOTHER 2-4 inches of snow - which means, up here on the mountain, we should get another half a foot.....waaaaaaa! I have to admit, it looks like the Stay Puff Marshmallow man puked all over our front yard.

Frugal

2010-02-14T12:37:00.002-05:00

Ah, St. Valentines Day...the day of CHOCOLATE. I don't care about flowers, or diamonds, or fancy cards...give me CHOCOLATE! The Ol' Man bought me a box of chocolate several years ago, and the box was a beautiful, red velvet heart. I couldn't throw it away after I ate all the chocolates, so I kept it. The next year, the Ol' Man had a brain storm, and took the box back to the chocolate shop and had them refill the same box, which saved $! So, for the 3rd year in a row, I get a lovely box of chocolates, in a red velvet heart that also filled with love...

Drive in the country

2010-02-13T11:10:00.002-05:00

Well, we drove to the Sports show yesterday...and drove right back home without getting out of the car. It was, as the Ol' Man said, a goat rope. You had to park about 5 miles away from the actual site, and then you had to wait for a bus. Yeah...not so much. There were about a billion cars parked (at $8 a pop), and about 5 billion people waiting for transportation to the show. I can say I wasn't looking forward to being "asshole to elbow" deep in people, being moved along like cattle. The Ol' Man felt the same, so we skipped the whole shebang. Worked for me. We had leftovers for dinner.

Can ya Dig it?

2010-02-11T11:01:00.007-05:00

We ended up with about 18-19 inches of snow... yeah! Not really, they said on the radio that the highways were clear, and they did plow our street. It's not bitterly cold, but it is pretty windy. The poor pups...the snow is so deep, it's over their heads! The Ol' Man and I are suppose to go to the Harrisburg Outdoor Show today- the biggest one on the East coast, so they say. It'll be interesting to see how it goes, with the snow and all.

Yeah, it's SNOWING

2010-02-10T13:35:00.004-05:00

Like mad....it started last night, and when we woke up this morning, there was about 3-4 inches on the ground. It's been steadly increasing in severity all day. We're up to about 6-7 inches, and it doesn't look like it's going to stop anytime soon. Yeesh....that damn groundhog. Burrrrrrrr! They should have held the Olympics here in the Pocono's. I think I'll be staying indoors till Spring...