Got your attention, didn't I? No, I'm not going to reveal much about MY life, other than you'll figure out I'm sitting in front of the TV and the computer, instead of out on the street, living my life in person.
Anyway, I am ever the "late-bloomer", late to discover Jimmy Buffet, late to discover photograpy, late to jump on the bandwagon for the program: Sex and the City... I have been surfing channels late at night and whenever I come across an episode of Sex and the City--- the surfing stops. Even if it's a rerun!! I don't exactly empathise with these women -- don't even know all their names. One is a whiney, kind of dumb, obviously raised rich brat; one is a way-too-edgy feminist who can't seem to decide if she wants to be tough or sweet and sexy; the third one is a forty-something sex kitten, ever on the prowl. The last, of course, is Carrie -- I don't even know for sure if that's how she spells her name -- Carrie makes me wonder what the big deal is about this show. Yes, I watch it regularly, but REALLY, what is it about this show? Carrie Bradshaw looks a little shopworn in the close-ups - she certainly isn't THE show stopper. Her taste in clothes rivals mine for being creative, nay, bizarre in what she chooses to wear. Come on, downtown New York City, and a grown woman, admittedly over 30 years of age, wearing what looks like the top only of a pair of pink baby-doll pajamas? Or a bountiful sheer scarf wrapped over a bra and panties?
And the men!!!! Okay, THAT's why I watch regularly - John Corbett for one. When she first met him, she spent a full episode wrestling with the fact that he wanted her, but he didn't like her smoking. Hmmmm, a cigarette, or John Corbett..... What was the question? That Mr. Big that she spent so much time on, not even a type, just a self-centered jerk..... I mean, look at my record -- I have a pattern, albeit and really BAD pattern, but you can pretty much write up a "type" from my past mistakes. Carrie, on the other hand, just keeps going on down the line -- some of them have something in common with her, others are just rich, and/or randy. I don't know, maybe it's the stage of hormones or something, but I just can't see the point.
Friday, September 22, 2006
Monday, September 18, 2006
It's Monday, It's Monday, It's Monday......
Yes, indeed, today is Monday; work day, weird day. Had to go off to the chain gang this morning. The boss is out of town, so the head pit boss was less pitbull than pit boss. Pissed her off a few times because things were slow, so I pulled out a book. Drives her nuts!!! Anyway, got that out of the way after only about 8 1/2 hours. Whew.
Hightailed it home where I was seeking refuge from the crazies and weirdos of the world. Was stopped by my new neighbor who, strangely enough goes by the same name I do. Funny part is, she is about a head taller, much bigger -- all ways, has the most wonderful head of blonde, corkscrew curly, long hair (I am insanely jealous of anyone who has hair remotely like I used to have) opposed to my short brown do. She drives a truck, while I sit at a desk all day. But, personally, we seem to gel otherwise. She's tough and single, just like I am - we make each other laugh. She's promising to introduce me to the man of my dreams. I'll hold reservations to that, since she told me that her ex is out of jail today, and I should call the police if I see anybody acting suspiciously around her house. Oh great.
We stood and talked for awhile, watching our NEW neighbor move in next door. Couldn't quite tell who is moving in, since the former tenant's son's girlfriend was busy driving through the yard to the back of the garage to pull out whatever crap the parents had left behind when the moved out last week; the landlord was in and out, apparently doing some last minute repairs and upgrades, a white truck kept coming and going -- new neighbor or nosey friend? I don't know....
In the nearly fourteen years I've lived here, I have endured about 7 or 8 years of a domineering husband screaming and shouting at this wife and four kids; numerous dogs tied out under the trees in all weather (I single-handedly orchestrated taking at least 5 animals from them for better homes -- still thinking about the full-blooded Golden Retriever I should have taken and was eventually stolen from them) and who rode the perimeter of the yard on his teeny-tiny mini-bike in his Chicago Bears zebra print sweat pants, satin Bears jacket and skunk cap, complete with tail, all his waking hours (and it seemed that he didn't work a lot). Oh how I prayed for a gas crisis at that time! The house sat empty for nearly two years, and now there's been three tenants in six months. What could the new neighbor have in store for us?
Maybe I don't want to know that, either.
Hightailed it home where I was seeking refuge from the crazies and weirdos of the world. Was stopped by my new neighbor who, strangely enough goes by the same name I do. Funny part is, she is about a head taller, much bigger -- all ways, has the most wonderful head of blonde, corkscrew curly, long hair (I am insanely jealous of anyone who has hair remotely like I used to have) opposed to my short brown do. She drives a truck, while I sit at a desk all day. But, personally, we seem to gel otherwise. She's tough and single, just like I am - we make each other laugh. She's promising to introduce me to the man of my dreams. I'll hold reservations to that, since she told me that her ex is out of jail today, and I should call the police if I see anybody acting suspiciously around her house. Oh great.
We stood and talked for awhile, watching our NEW neighbor move in next door. Couldn't quite tell who is moving in, since the former tenant's son's girlfriend was busy driving through the yard to the back of the garage to pull out whatever crap the parents had left behind when the moved out last week; the landlord was in and out, apparently doing some last minute repairs and upgrades, a white truck kept coming and going -- new neighbor or nosey friend? I don't know....
In the nearly fourteen years I've lived here, I have endured about 7 or 8 years of a domineering husband screaming and shouting at this wife and four kids; numerous dogs tied out under the trees in all weather (I single-handedly orchestrated taking at least 5 animals from them for better homes -- still thinking about the full-blooded Golden Retriever I should have taken and was eventually stolen from them) and who rode the perimeter of the yard on his teeny-tiny mini-bike in his Chicago Bears zebra print sweat pants, satin Bears jacket and skunk cap, complete with tail, all his waking hours (and it seemed that he didn't work a lot). Oh how I prayed for a gas crisis at that time! The house sat empty for nearly two years, and now there's been three tenants in six months. What could the new neighbor have in store for us?
Maybe I don't want to know that, either.
I AM A HOMEOWNER....... Blah!
When I'm not so tired and harrassed, I have to admit that I would rather OWN my own home and do my own house and yard work than RENT ANYTHING from what usually ends up being the world's worst excuse for a slum landlord.
I know, I know, I spread myself too thin to keep housework and yardwork on a schedule, but I do get most things done, eventually, and when the yard is done, it looks spectacular! I ran away from all other responsibilities yesterday (no, I didn't leave my Mother sitting at the dentist office or anything like that), but I just ignored the phone, cut my relaxing cups of coffee short, put on my grubbies, and started out by trolling the property for loose sticks that would act as projectiles if hit by the lawn tractor. Then I pooper-scooped the yard -- broke a good pooper-scooper in the process -- I guess it was inevitable -- I think it was about 8 years old.... Then because the grass was so wet -- what is it with such heavy dew, lately???? Because the main grass was so wet, I got the push mower out and did the trimming FIRST. That worked okay, but I swear that push-mower has a gas tank capacity of a half-cup. Once I'd filled the thing about 3 times, an hour and a half had passed, and the grass was a little more dry.
I oiled and gassed the tractor, then I fired up the old thing -- was warned this past spring that I need to get rid of this puppy. The pin that holds the blades to the mower deck is starting to give and there is nothing that can be done to fix it. The tractor is over 30 years old, and despite this obvious wear and that it looks like it went through a war, it still has a pretty strong heart. I'll hate to see it go!!!
Okay, so I started mowing. Right or wrong, I have the same route every time I mow. When I got to the far side of the yard, I felt a fire-hot stinging on my ankle. Several people I know have been chased and stung by ground bees this season, and I figured I was the new kid on the block. I ducked my head, swerved sharply to the right, and kept going. My ankle was on fire, and for a few moments, I didn't think I could stand it much longer, but once I'd turned and was heading toward the house, the burning sensation eased a bit. I have a HUGE yard, and by the time I was back to the starting gate, the stinging had eased up enough, I figured, what the heck, and continued to mow. I DID avoid that spot of the lawn, however. There are two long spots in the lawn today, the spot where I encountered the bees, and one spot where I had overlooked some rather large tree limbs that had fallen.
Because of the rain lately, it's been about 2, 2-1/2 weeks since I'd last mowed. It was long, but not too bad. I took it slow, and didn't bog down the mower, even in the thickest areas. It still took me nearly two hours to mow the entire thing. I had a high energy thing going, so I did some weeding, extra trimming on some of the smaller trees and shrubs. I went past the front bushes a couple times, knowing full well that they needed trimming, as well. I sorely wanted to get the trimmer out, but I currently have two different garden spiders displaying beautifully intricate webs, over the front bushes. I would have to completely displace them both to trim them down. Am I crazy, or what? Would I redeem myself if I say I've been practicing my photo skills on them?
Well, seven hours later, I am once again proud of the outside of my house -- well most of it -- if I go crazy with a paintbrush, it would only help. I took some needed relaxation time last evening, and this morning I had a meeting. Played hooky some more, just because I could. Nope, didn't do much inside. Intended to this evening, but the Sunday paper had the promise of a beefed-up Help Wanted section. Whew!!!! When are the days going to get longer than 24 hours??????
Sunday, September 17, 2006
"Steve Irwin Didn't Have to Die!!"
DISCLAIMER: I very, very seldom purchase the pulp sold near the checkout stand because it IS so preposterous --- this is one of those rare occasions -- will probably send it on to SSMW for further comment.....
Just out of the Globe Exclusive, "Steve Irwin Autopsy Shocker. Sadly, the chilling details of the beloved wildlife legend's last moments reveal that his own actions contributed to his untimely death after he was stabbed by the venomous barb of a 220-pound bull stingray while snorkeling off Australia's Great Barrier Reef.
"... It was an incredibly rare stroke of bad luck--" No, duh!
"Lifesaving CPR was attempted... and a medevac helicopter was called...."
"... Specifics of the autopsy remain under wraps..... but sources say it revealed that a series of mistakes and bad breaks doomed the charismatic Animal Planet star. More bad luck, eh?
" The most critical error occurred when Irwin yanked the barb out of his own chest after being struck, leaving a palm-size hole. Like a double-bladed dagger with fishhook teeth, the barb caused much more structural damage to his heart when pulled out than when it went in."
"Internationally renowned forensic pathologist Mr. Michael Baden, who has investigated deaths all over the world and served as an expert witness in O.J. Simpson's trial, tells GLOBE "It's human nature to want to pull out any spike that breaks through your chest wall (happens regularly to me, how about you?) but it's better to leave it intact until a surgeon can remove it. Keep that in mind, will you? Pulling it out caused the protective sac around Mr. Irwin's heart to fill with blood, which prevented his heart from beating.
"Since it would have taken some time for the devastating effects of the ray's venom to compromise his system, it was really the cardiac rupture that caused his death." From my watching two full seasons of CSI: Miami, I feel confident in saying that the venom from a 220-pound Bull Stingray administered directly to the heart might NOT have killed the man instantly, but instead would have taken maybe a full ten minutes......
"Baden notes that if someone had quickly aspirated the heart sac - piercing it with a hypodermic needle and drawing out the blood that had filled it - he might have made it to the hospital" And then he would have died. Okay, I'll play the Devil's Advocate here --- Would the most experienced professional medical man have KNOWN exactly what had happened?????? Once the autopsy report is leaked, it is EASY to comment on what I would have done..... but even a paramedic.... it would have been a crapshoot, either way!!!!
"He was in a high-risk business and should have had his own medical expert on board his boat. And everyone, including the cameraman who was closest to him, should have had the training necessary to stop him from ripping the barb from his chest." Yeah, he should have spent some of his cool millions on a heart specialist to accompany him into the sea -- and oops, he breaks a leg, and bone shards get into his bloodstream, and rips into his circulatory system, and the man dies a freakish death because there was no one aboard that could have prevented his leg from bending in that direction in the first place. Oh, oh, and President Kennedy should have had a medical team with him at all times, and the brain surgeon could have started surgery before they ever left the area of the Grassy Knoll and he wouldn't have had to die. Oh, my Gawd!!!! If Elvis hadn't gone to the bathroom alone, SOMEONE could have noticed he collapsed and probably died in his own vomit!!!!! Ever hear of the saying "Hindsight is 20/20"??
Oh, and if the photo and Headlines weren't enough to get me to buy this rag, it also said: "His desperate death struggle - IN PICTURES" and "His wife's agony" had clinched the deal. The PICTURES were three close-to-stick-figure sketches showing Mr. Irwin being struck, clutching his chest, then pulling the barb out. If those PICTURES are to be believed, then I don't believe Steve is dead, because the "gaping hole" is on the right side of his chest, it couldn't possibly have hit his heart. And the sidebar about "His wife's agony" is just a very slight mention of how strong Terri and Bindi are both being - no report at all.
Thank you, I feel better now.
Just out of the Globe Exclusive, "Steve Irwin Autopsy Shocker. Sadly, the chilling details of the beloved wildlife legend's last moments reveal that his own actions contributed to his untimely death after he was stabbed by the venomous barb of a 220-pound bull stingray while snorkeling off Australia's Great Barrier Reef.
"... It was an incredibly rare stroke of bad luck--" No, duh!
"Lifesaving CPR was attempted... and a medevac helicopter was called...."
"... Specifics of the autopsy remain under wraps..... but sources say it revealed that a series of mistakes and bad breaks doomed the charismatic Animal Planet star. More bad luck, eh?
" The most critical error occurred when Irwin yanked the barb out of his own chest after being struck, leaving a palm-size hole. Like a double-bladed dagger with fishhook teeth, the barb caused much more structural damage to his heart when pulled out than when it went in."
"Internationally renowned forensic pathologist Mr. Michael Baden, who has investigated deaths all over the world and served as an expert witness in O.J. Simpson's trial, tells GLOBE "It's human nature to want to pull out any spike that breaks through your chest wall (happens regularly to me, how about you?) but it's better to leave it intact until a surgeon can remove it. Keep that in mind, will you? Pulling it out caused the protective sac around Mr. Irwin's heart to fill with blood, which prevented his heart from beating.
"Since it would have taken some time for the devastating effects of the ray's venom to compromise his system, it was really the cardiac rupture that caused his death." From my watching two full seasons of CSI: Miami, I feel confident in saying that the venom from a 220-pound Bull Stingray administered directly to the heart might NOT have killed the man instantly, but instead would have taken maybe a full ten minutes......
"Baden notes that if someone had quickly aspirated the heart sac - piercing it with a hypodermic needle and drawing out the blood that had filled it - he might have made it to the hospital" And then he would have died. Okay, I'll play the Devil's Advocate here --- Would the most experienced professional medical man have KNOWN exactly what had happened?????? Once the autopsy report is leaked, it is EASY to comment on what I would have done..... but even a paramedic.... it would have been a crapshoot, either way!!!!
"He was in a high-risk business and should have had his own medical expert on board his boat. And everyone, including the cameraman who was closest to him, should have had the training necessary to stop him from ripping the barb from his chest." Yeah, he should have spent some of his cool millions on a heart specialist to accompany him into the sea -- and oops, he breaks a leg, and bone shards get into his bloodstream, and rips into his circulatory system, and the man dies a freakish death because there was no one aboard that could have prevented his leg from bending in that direction in the first place. Oh, oh, and President Kennedy should have had a medical team with him at all times, and the brain surgeon could have started surgery before they ever left the area of the Grassy Knoll and he wouldn't have had to die. Oh, my Gawd!!!! If Elvis hadn't gone to the bathroom alone, SOMEONE could have noticed he collapsed and probably died in his own vomit!!!!! Ever hear of the saying "Hindsight is 20/20"??
Oh, and if the photo and Headlines weren't enough to get me to buy this rag, it also said: "His desperate death struggle - IN PICTURES" and "His wife's agony" had clinched the deal. The PICTURES were three close-to-stick-figure sketches showing Mr. Irwin being struck, clutching his chest, then pulling the barb out. If those PICTURES are to be believed, then I don't believe Steve is dead, because the "gaping hole" is on the right side of his chest, it couldn't possibly have hit his heart. And the sidebar about "His wife's agony" is just a very slight mention of how strong Terri and Bindi are both being - no report at all.
Thank you, I feel better now.
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Tough Day at Black Rock......
I have decided that I don't like any of the available fonts here. That's just the icing on today's cake. I've been told that I spread myself too thin -- today, I am skim milk!
Work is as bad as ever, the weather sucks (yes, I know we need the rain, but MODERATION! MODERATION!) My body must work on a solar panel, no sun, no energy! When I arrived home, my neighbor came out on her porch and announced she needed to talk to me. I put her off for a couple minutes while I came inside to get the dogs. Thinking: "Am I in some kind of trouble?", I went over to see what she wanted.
Turned out her sister has just been diagnosed with Breast Cancer and she wanted some advice, some insight, and probably some reassurance. Hell, why not -- turns out today is the seventh anniversary of MY diagnosis. I didn't realize that until we started talking about the bare bones: what happens next. I left her with some words that I hope will help, my oncologist's card, a hug, and hope, I hope. Left me thinking that all this volunteer stuff I'm being criticized for may be having some impact. Hmmmmmm.
Getting late -- I can't believe I'm being such an idiot trying to get everything up and running on this computer. The fact that I've gotten a couple pictures out the door is a near miracle. Haven't been able to get my Micro Office open to get my resume done. All the work my computer guru did to get stuff copied over may be for naught, if I can't find the stuff!!!!!
Okay - til next time--- don't forget to get your mammies checked! Oh, and if you're of the male gender -- you need to have things checked, too. So do it!
Work is as bad as ever, the weather sucks (yes, I know we need the rain, but MODERATION! MODERATION!) My body must work on a solar panel, no sun, no energy! When I arrived home, my neighbor came out on her porch and announced she needed to talk to me. I put her off for a couple minutes while I came inside to get the dogs. Thinking: "Am I in some kind of trouble?", I went over to see what she wanted.
Turned out her sister has just been diagnosed with Breast Cancer and she wanted some advice, some insight, and probably some reassurance. Hell, why not -- turns out today is the seventh anniversary of MY diagnosis. I didn't realize that until we started talking about the bare bones: what happens next. I left her with some words that I hope will help, my oncologist's card, a hug, and hope, I hope. Left me thinking that all this volunteer stuff I'm being criticized for may be having some impact. Hmmmmmm.
Getting late -- I can't believe I'm being such an idiot trying to get everything up and running on this computer. The fact that I've gotten a couple pictures out the door is a near miracle. Haven't been able to get my Micro Office open to get my resume done. All the work my computer guru did to get stuff copied over may be for naught, if I can't find the stuff!!!!!
Okay - til next time--- don't forget to get your mammies checked! Oh, and if you're of the male gender -- you need to have things checked, too. So do it!
Friday, September 08, 2006
Tooting My Own Horn -- so to speak....
Okay! Since SSMW gave me the prerequisite boot in the butt, I guess I'd better take her seriously and get typing!
Yes!!!!! Back in July, I was talking to some friends who were discussing the upcoming County Fair and the fact that they were entering some of the competitions for their woodworking projects and photography. Photography!!!! Who's the photographer here? Although I am the only person in my crowd to have professional classes under my belt, a recent adult education class in Photoshop, and membership in the local photo club -- no one has seen any of my current work! Between my laziness and the fact that my computer needed updating, I think I have the world's largest collection of memory cards from my digital camera. Not many photos to show for it. Working at the Zoo, I carry my camera with me and have caught some very unusual photos, from the extreme close-up of the tiger against the window taking his nap (this photo won me the Grand Champion ribbon in the "color enlargement - animals" class!!!) to a slightly blurry pic of two tortoises in mating season! Once in a while, I'd run to Mal-Wart and print a shot for a gift or my photo club meet. A month ago, I let a friend take my computer down for a couple weeks, and upgrade to a new computer. I AM STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO USE IT!!!!!! Anyway, I digress. I checked out what it takes to enter the photography exhibit at the Fair, signed up, then spent two weeks choosing, printing and mounting photos. I consciously balked at entering the particular Tiger Photo, because it is so unusual, and in the end, I decided that I like it, so it's going in. Imagine my shock (yes, I actually gasped when I found the Blue and the Purple (Grand Prize) ribbons on that photo! I was still standing there when another woman came in and found the ribbon on my photo and proceeded to have a conniption fit about it. She obviously didn't care whether or not hers was good enough, she just felt that she deserved the ribbon more. So, here I apologize to all who read this, for the lack of the infamous Tiger Photo, until I have the time to figure out HOW to post it!!!!! Hope you are not offended by exclamation points, because I use them a lot. Heck, I don't apologize for that -- that's the way I write, and you are not my writing teacher, are you?
Haven't been blogging because I have been working, stressing, fighting with my mother about things that I love, stressing, volunteering at the Zoo, trying to learn my new computer, stressing, knitting squares for a young soldier heading for Kosovo, stressing over my daughter's upcoming wedding AND her pregnancy, working on my photography, and putting some hours on my kayak (unstressing).
Yes!!!!! Back in July, I was talking to some friends who were discussing the upcoming County Fair and the fact that they were entering some of the competitions for their woodworking projects and photography. Photography!!!! Who's the photographer here? Although I am the only person in my crowd to have professional classes under my belt, a recent adult education class in Photoshop, and membership in the local photo club -- no one has seen any of my current work! Between my laziness and the fact that my computer needed updating, I think I have the world's largest collection of memory cards from my digital camera. Not many photos to show for it. Working at the Zoo, I carry my camera with me and have caught some very unusual photos, from the extreme close-up of the tiger against the window taking his nap (this photo won me the Grand Champion ribbon in the "color enlargement - animals" class!!!) to a slightly blurry pic of two tortoises in mating season! Once in a while, I'd run to Mal-Wart and print a shot for a gift or my photo club meet. A month ago, I let a friend take my computer down for a couple weeks, and upgrade to a new computer. I AM STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO USE IT!!!!!! Anyway, I digress. I checked out what it takes to enter the photography exhibit at the Fair, signed up, then spent two weeks choosing, printing and mounting photos. I consciously balked at entering the particular Tiger Photo, because it is so unusual, and in the end, I decided that I like it, so it's going in. Imagine my shock (yes, I actually gasped when I found the Blue and the Purple (Grand Prize) ribbons on that photo! I was still standing there when another woman came in and found the ribbon on my photo and proceeded to have a conniption fit about it. She obviously didn't care whether or not hers was good enough, she just felt that she deserved the ribbon more. So, here I apologize to all who read this, for the lack of the infamous Tiger Photo, until I have the time to figure out HOW to post it!!!!! Hope you are not offended by exclamation points, because I use them a lot. Heck, I don't apologize for that -- that's the way I write, and you are not my writing teacher, are you?
Haven't been blogging because I have been working, stressing, fighting with my mother about things that I love, stressing, volunteering at the Zoo, trying to learn my new computer, stressing, knitting squares for a young soldier heading for Kosovo, stressing over my daughter's upcoming wedding AND her pregnancy, working on my photography, and putting some hours on my kayak (unstressing).
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