Hey, Colorado...

...quit hogging all the snow and let us back East have some too. The year's almost over and we haven't had any snow at all.

Hello! Remember us?

No Mo'

Since I changed my email address, my mail box has been very bleak. I haven't had any spam (knock on wood) at all. Prior to changing it I was receiving between 300-400 emails every freaken day. Most of them were going directly into the Spam folder and I flushed them down the toilet with the flick of my finger. It was more a nuisance than anything.

I am being very careful when giving out my new address. I have another one with Yahoo that I use for junk purposes. I am guessing that our addresses are being given away (sold?) quicker than we can say the word. Spam is another four-letter word and it really disgusts me. For now I can breathe again, but my mail is boring. I get so few emails now that I feel as if all my friends left me. Well, I never had many to start with on the internet.

I will relish the fact that they haven't found me yet, even though I have had this new address for over three weeks. I suppose it won't take them too long to find me either. It had gotten to the point that I never opened any of them; not like in the beginning. I guess that's how they spread like wildfire ~ you open them and let them know on the other end that they found a "live" one.

So, for now, I am ahead of the game. Let's see how long it takes for the fox to find the hen.

Another Small Step

One of the reasons for not having a tree this year is that a collection of boxes filled with clothing and household items took up the majority of the living room. A lot of those boxes were first filled over a year ago and were then put in the living room so that we could take them somewhere. They.never.made.it.

Last Christmas I moved them into the spare bedroom. And then, over the past summer, I filled more boxes with similar items and piled them in the living room and we were back to square one. I had boxes in the bedroom and in the living room and nowhere to go with them. I thought it wouldn't be long until we found a home for them. It's not like I didn't nag, cajole, or remind a certain someone either. It just never fit into his schedule while he was working. But oh boy...once he was no longer working, there weren't any excuses left as to why we couldn't get rid of them.

Is there an end to all this? You bet there is. Yesterday we were finally able to take a pickup truckload to a local food bank. They give donated items to needy families. I realize I could have had many yard sales and made money, but I have no patience for that type thing. And you don't always get rid of everything, leaving you with items you again have to store somewhere till the next sale.

So we finally made a baby step. The giant steps will come after I get all of the rest of the things together and donated to the same organization. It might take awhile because there is still so much to do. But trust me...it will get done. And we will have a tree next Christmas.

Merry Christmas From Our House To Yours

CHEYENNE ~ RICHARD ~ DAKOTA SIOUX ~ JUNIOR

Naughty Or Nice?

A young man wanted to purchase a gift for his new sweetheart for Christmas and as they had not been dating very long, after careful consideration, he decided a pair of gloves would strike the right note: romantic but not too personal. Accompanied by his sweetheart's younger sister, he went to Nordstrom's and bought a pair of white gloves. The sister purchased a pair of panties for herself. During the wrapping, the clerk mixed up the items and the sister got the gloves and the sweetheart got the panties. Without checking the contents, the young man sealed the package and sent it to his sweetheart with the following note : "I chose these because I noticed that you are not in the habit of wearing any when we go out in the evening. If it had not been for your sister, I would have chosen the long ones with the buttons but she wears short ones that are easier to remove. These are a delicate shade, but the lady I bought them from showed me the pair she had been wearing for the past three weeks and they are hardly soiled. I had her try yours on for me and she looked really smart. I wish I was there to put them on for you the first time as no doubt other hands will come in contact with them before I have a chance to see you again. When you take them off, remember to blow in them before putting them away as they will naturally be a little damp from wearing. Just think how many times I will kiss them during the coming year! All my love. P.S. The latest style is to wear them folded down with a little fur showing.

See? I Knew It!

I knew there was a reason not to have a tree this year, and this is it. Mother always knows best.

Short Story by "A. Christmas Tree"

I pulled this from the archives so that it can be shared again this year. I wrote this last year after we had finally found the tree for our home.

Hello. I am a Douglas Fir. It took me a long time to grow up to be a Christmas tree. Yes, A Christmas tree. I was so happy with my feet planted firmly and I had many friends all around me. Once a year a lot of people came to look at us but I guess we were just too small, so they kept on walking. It seemed they always went to the bigger trees.

It didn't bother me ~ I was happy where I was and I wasn't in a hurry to go anywhere. Sometimes one of my friends down in the valley would be brought by us on a wagon and we often wondered where they were going or what happened to them.

One day, while I stood there enjoying the brisk air and the warmth of the sun on my branches, that wagon stopped right in front of me. They chopped me down, threw me on that wagon, and took me back to some buildings where a lot of people were milling around. They tossed me on the ground and I lay there wondering why. What next? Soon I was yanked up on end and slowly spun around. No one had ever touched me that way and I was so confused, not knowing quite what was happening to me.

They took me to a place where someone cut off my lower branches (ouch!) and then they drilled a nail up through my trunk. That really hurt. And then, the humiliation! They stuck me in a hole, I was pulled through, and I came out all trussed up with string, I couldn't breathe. Next thing I knew I was being carried away and put into the back of a truck. It was dark inside and I stayed in there a long time.

Finally someone took me out of the darkness and into a place that was warm. It felt kinda nice. They released my branches and I felt sooooo good.

Before I knew it things were being put on my branches and when it was all done, I felt very special.

And as I stood there I wondered why anyone would want to call me a 'holiday' tree. Holiday indeed! I AM A CHRISTMAS TREE! Show a little respect for me. Thank you.

Christmas Questions & Answers

Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Egg Nog if it is non-fat; otherwise non-fat hot chocolate. I know, I am so boring.

Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Wraps them, and usually at the last possible minute.

Colored lights on tree/house or white? Switched to all white years ago.

Do you hang mistletoe? No, what for? Besides, it's dangerous to kittens.

When do you put your decorations up? Whenever the mood hits me. Unfortunately, this year it hasn't hit me.

What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? I have no idea. I don't really have a favorite. Desserts are always high on my list.

Favorite Holiday memory as a child: We would visit my one grandmother for lunch and the other one for dinner. Christmas mornings were spent at our house opening gifts.

When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I really don't remember. Too far back to even think about it. My older brother probably filled me in.

Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? No

How do you decorate your Christmas tree? There are a lot of Junior #8 ornaments, things my daughter made when she was smaller, and each year I buy a new ornament.

Snow? I hated it when I was working and had to drive in it; now, I can't get enough of it. And unfortunately we haven't gotten much since I no longer work. Drat.

Can you ice skate? No. Tried it once and that was enough. Just not coordinated for those things.

Do you remember your favorite gift? There were too many to remember. But my most precious gift was when my daughter was born.

What’s the most important thing about the Holidays for you? It used to be family but most of them are gone. Now it's just getting through another year without a catastrophe.

What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? As long as it's got sugar (or a sugar-substitute) any dessert, for the most part, will do.

What is your favorite holiday tradition? Don't have any. Each year is different. Spontaneous.

What tops your tree? A fabric angel, not a plastic one. Her dress is fabric, her hair is real etc.

Which do you prefer: Giving or Receiving? Neither. Just kidding. I like to give when I know it's the right gift for that person and then watch the expression on their face as they open the gift. I like to receive when it is something I like and will use; otherwise, ugh.

What is your favorite Christmas Song? Elvis Presley's Blue Christmas.

Candy Canes - I don't care for peppermint so I don't eat candy canes.

Something to "Rave" About

If you have one of these movie complexes in your neighborhood and you haven't visited yet, I highly suggest that you do so.

It all started when I entered a contest to win tickets to preview night. This particular complex (a first for our area), is located in the Promenade Shops of Saucon Valley. I did a post on that little city/shopping complex awhile back.

I received my tickets in the mail the first week of December. Preview night was the 14th, with their grand opening the 15th. Not only were we treated to a free recently-played movie, but everyone got a free bag of popcorn and soda of their choice. Both of those items in my book would be considered large; they called them small.

Because there are 16 theaters within the complex, we had our choice of 16 movies. Not an easy decision to make since we had no idea what the movies were going to be prior to visiting. We had already seen Pirates of the Caribbean and Cars so those were immediatley ruled out. Mission Impossible III? Heard too many things about that one that weren't good. Over The Hedge (animated) and You, Me and Depree were possibilities. Then there was The Breakup starring Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn. Well, they had already broken up so I certainly didn't want to see that.

And then my eyes honed in on a movie that was right up my alley; one that I had wanted to see when it was released but the ads on TV saturated it right out of my mind. Back then I decided I would wait a few months before seeing it because to be honest with you, I was sick and tired of the ads all over the place. What movie am I talking about? How about Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby?

We both agreed it was the movie we were going to see in the comfort of this new theater. The rows of seats are four feet apart (rather than the standard three feet), with rocker-type headrests. Digital film (actually DLP) with surround sound. Just hearing those cars go around the track in surround sound was worth the price of the tickets. Oh wait, it was free.

They charge a tad more than your average theater (not much more), but with all those amenities it is worth going to RAVE. You will rave about it for days. I'm still on a high.

Atlantic City Part 3

And last but not least, here is one of those celebrity cement blocks. This one is for my friend, MaryEllen.

I know we went to see him at Resorts at least once, maybe twice. It's been so long ago I can't fully remember. Ah well...they say the mind is the second thing to go.

Atlantic City Part 2

This is the Resorts Casino which was the one our bus was destined for all of us to have a good time. The bus/casino cost $23 per person, but at the end of the line we were given $25 per person to use for gambling, or not. I say or not because some people don't gamble. They cash it in and then take in all the sights. I have done that once or twice. I just love the shore/ocean, no matter where it is in the country.

I think this was my second or third visit to Resorts. What I liked about it this time is that out front, on the facade of the building and on the floor directly in front of the building, there are cement blocks containing handprints and signatures of all the celebrities that have played there. That was a chilling sight to see the ones that are no longer with us. Like Dean Martin. I love his music and anything else he did. Even some of those hokey movies he did.

This photo was taken from the sand dunes.

Atlantic City Part 1

I was finally able to retrieve my Atlantic City photos, but I could only fetch one or two at a time and when I got to the fourth photo I quit while I was ahead. For some reason I just couldn't do four or five at a time.

I love the shore. I love the sound of the waves which are even better at night. I go to sleep many nights to the sound of the ocean thanks to my sound machine. My parents took us to the shore every chance they got. My first honeymoon was spent at the shore. The second one was spent in the Bahamas.

So whenever I get the chance, I take photos of the ocean. It has brought me many wonderful memories. Except once, but that's another story.

Well Knock Me Over With A Feather

Four-time NEXTEL Cup champion Jeff Gordon is about to add a new title to his name: Father.

Gordon's wife, Ingrid Vandebosch, is expecting the couple's first child in early July of 2007. The couple was married November 7th in a private ceremony in Mexico. "We're obviously very excited," Gordon said. "Christmas came early for us this year. This is a very special gift for us - one that we're both looking forward to."

Gordon was previously married but did not have any children with his first wife, Brooke. The couple knew about the pregnancy "for a little while," but held off making an announcement. "But we couldn't wait any longer to share the good news with our friends and fans," Gordon said.

*********************************************************

Although I'm not a Gordon fan, I am very happy for him and his "little woman." That's a joke, folks. (She's taller than he is.) Congratulations Jeff and Ingrid.

Wow, two posts from me today. Aren't you lucky...

Switching to Beta Blogger was the easiest thing I've ever done. Try it, you might like it. It's painless and only takes a few minutes of your time. The reason it took me this long is because I knew I was changing over to DSL, that my email address would be different. So I waited till that was in place.

In order to comment on a blog that has switched to beta, like mine, you must open a Google account; something you Blogger folks will have to do once you change to beta anyway. And time is running out to switch over. So make it easy on yourself and hit that "Switch" button because if I can do it anyone can. Go one now, don't be afraid, just do it!

I Am Totally Shocked

After trying to get my photos to transfer to my blog for the past couple of days I was about to give up and decided to give it one more try before retiring to my blessed bed. It is 3:17 am Eastern time.

I have been troubleshooting like there is no tomorrow. And frankly, I was about to call it quits. But this one worked, so here are my babies.

Damn It!

OK, so I have DSL and I switched over to beta on Blogger. So why do I still have a lot of trouble getting my photos to upload? I have been trying to post pictures from our trip to Atlantic City for three days now to no avail. Other pictures make the trip with no problems. I guess I'm just not supposed to show you those.

I know that's a guy portrayed in my photo up there; I assure you I am not a guy. Sometimes I wish I were so I could beat the crap out of Blogger.

Needless to say, I was at a loss as to what to post today, so this is all you're going to get. I am just too darn upset for anything else.

Uh, What Christmas Spirit?

Well folks, looking at the calendar I see that Christmas is just a mere two weeks away and I have no Christmas spirit in me this year.

I am fairly sure there will be no tree and that is mostly due to the kittens and their safety. I just don't want to take that chance. Also, there are a lot of boxes, both full and empty, in the room where the tree always goes. And it doesn't look like those boxes are going anywhere much before the new year.

I have white candles in my windows all year 'round and our dogwood tree in the front yard has a string of white lights all year 'round, so that will have to do for the Christmas decorations outside. Normally we put icicles all around the house plus lights on the shrubbery in front, two spiral trees and two reindeer with white lights. But not this year. My husband's knee is just too painful (yes, the knee replacement of almost two years ago) and I don't want him falling off the ladder.

I also won't be sending out many Christmas cards either. I did last year, although there weren't that many, and I only received a few. It's just not worth it anymore. I think there will be around 3 to 5 going out this year.

Decorations inside? Nope. Sorry, but if you're not in the mood, you're just not in the mood. Now don't get me wrong...I love Christmas just as much as most of you out there, but this year it just doesn't seem right. And every year it gets more and more commercial. People forget the real reason we celebrate. And that is so sad.

My husband and I don't exchange gifts anymore because we have everything; and to be honest with you, if we need or want something during the year we just go ahead and buy it. That leaves my daughter and her boyfriend and those gifts were purchased during the summer. I haven't bought gifts for anyone else in a long time.

So I am about as ready as I'll ever be. And don't for one minute think I am depressed because I'm not. It's just that as one gets older certain things just aren't the same. I am just as happy not stressing out over the season like I did so many years ago when I used to do all those things I don't have to do this year.

So while you are in a frenzy trying to find that perfect gift, having all those relatives visiting and cramping your style, having to visit relatives that a lot of times you'd rather not, all that baking and cooking, decorating inside and outside, wrapping gifts at the last minute...well, just think of me. Stress free. And guess what? After Christmas is over you all have to undo what you just did and I don't have to because I never did it in the first place!

This Is Live ~ Not Tape Delayed

Monday evening we dropped off Dakota Sioux (top) and Junior at the shelter where we adopted them so that they could have their surgery (spay/neuter) the next day. We picked them up Wednesday morning and they were raring to go. Not only were they super hungry, but they were very anxious to get home. And believe me, we heard it all the way home. They were scolding us for what we did to them.
I finally changed to DSL. It was installed yesterday. Everything went smoothly as long as the technician was here. Then I was given an instruction sheet on how to configure e-mail for Outlook Express. I followed it correctly but I still cannot send or receive. Well actually I won't receive anything yet because no one knows my new e-mail address. But I know I can't send because I have three messages waiting to go out. I keep getting errors. I will make that dreaded phone call (hey, I can call on my regular phone now because the line isn't tied up from the computer) and hopefully they can get me on the straight and narrow once again. It's always something.

Tuesday, while the kittens were under the knife we decided to use the free day to go to Atlantic City. No, we didn't win anything. The best part was when I used a walkway toward the beach and was able to take some photos. I have yet to download them and once I do, I will post them.
Another highlight was the drunk guy. These casinos give you all the free drinks you want, and then when someone gets good and drunk they treat them like a criminal. What's up with that? They handcuffed his hands behind his back and stuck him in a wheelchair. They then called for medical help but I never saw anyone respond to that request. Meanwhile the guy threw himself on the floor and laid there while at least 8 employees stood around. What a joke.

We ended up eating at a buffet in the Resorts Casino. It cost over $40 for the two of us, and I assured my husband that for that price I was going to stuff myself till I puked. I did stuff myself but the other thing never happened. And, by the way, it cost us $46 to ride the bus and they gave us $50 in cash to spend. It doesn't get any better than that. However, now that we have casinos popping up in Pennsylvania I highly doubt we will be visiting Atlantic City again. It takes about 2-1/2 hours to get there, and they only give you six hours to lose your money, and then it is another 2-1/2 hours back home.

This Is What I Promised To Reveal

Once upon a time there was a trucking company that started operating in a not-so-deep southern state. It started small but as it kept opening new terminals up and down the East Coast, it grew by leaps and bounds. The man who started this company was the type that mixed it up with his employees, as did his son who followed in his footsteps. Along came the grandson who was fairly decent until he became corrupted by those around him. Unlike his father and grandfather before him, he distanced himself from the employees.

Eventually this trucking company took on what they called partners. By doing that they were able to cover practically all of the United States, including Hawaii and Puerto Rico. (And I believe that was their first mistake.)

The trucking company that operated in the West was then bought by the little upstart company, and those employees were then thrown into the mix. Another mistake. It didn't take long for those people on the West Coast to realize they were being screwed by their new owner. Talks of getting a Union surfaced and before long at least two of those western terminals got as far as voting for one. So after all their bragging, both those terminals voted the Union down. Why? What happened?

...and now for the rest of the story:

When there was talk of Unions on the West Coast, the grandson sent some of his henchmen out to those two terminals and harassed the employees. They threatened to close both terminals down. When that didn't stop the employees, they then pulled each and every one of them into an office and berated, coerced and threatened them. I don't know how they got away with it, but they did. So much so that those gung-ho-for-a-Union employees backed down. And with their tails between their legs, they voted against the Union. How sad. They didn't stand a chance.

Now I don't know about you all but to me those were terroristic attacks and I honestly did not believe tactics like that still go on in this country. Boy, was I naive. Apparently we are not civilized yet.

I worked for that company 13 years and I truly loved my job. I worked for three different terminal managers along with one interim manager. When the one that is there now arrived he was a 29-year-old-still-wet-behind-the-ears upstart who was and still is so smug that I just wanted to walk right up to him and give him an attitude adjustment. I am not a hateful person but honestly, that guy pushed me to the limit. It was because of him that I began to hate my job even though I wasn't doing anything different. Until he decided otherwise, with the help of his boss, and I was tossed for insubordination. But before I was tossed I had seen the writing on the wall and I had been cleaning up my work area and taking all personal items home, so that on the day of infamy I was ready and all I had to do was collect my purse and walk the hell out of there.

It took me a full year to let go and realize they'd done me a favor albeit a small one. I think had I not been let go I would have done one of two things: I'd have gotten so fed up that I would have quit on my own, or I would've turned on that bastard, and I have no qualms about calling him that because that's exactly what he is. Why people like him are allowed to breed is beyond me, let alone why he was created in the first place. (He is still a bachelor and I don't have to wonder why.)

As far as the company goes now, there are all kinds of rumors flying. And I honestly believe the bottom will fall out before long. One of those rumors is that they are looking for a buyer...again. No one wanted them and all their baggage the first time. It's a shame the good people that still work there (and there are a few left), don't see the writing on the wall too and bail.

I have wiped my hands of them as has my husband. Yeah, they tossed him too for a dumb stupid reason. It had to do with Starbucks if you'll remember my post of a few weeks ago. Now all we can do is wait for them to choke on their own stupidity. And we will have the last laugh after all.

AMAZINGLY ENOUGH, I DON'T GIVE A SH*T!

Congratulations...

...to Dale Earnhardt Jr on winning NASCAR's Most Popular Driver Award for the fourth year in a row. I voted every day...did you?

This Is Not X-Rated

I was looking through a bunch of these funny pictures when I came across this one:


Now, I don't mean to be gross or anything, but I was just wondering how they do that. What types of machinery are involved? And do they use a scrub brush? Ouch. I'm sorry, but my mind is just too fertile right now and all kinds of images are popping into my brain.

The funny thing is, that's my husband's nickname. But I can never bring myself to call him that.
And I often wonder who started calling people that were christened Richard by that name anyway. It just makes no sense. I can understand Rich or Rick, but not Dick. Someone with a sick sense of humor I suppose. And why do people name their kids one thing knowing full well that they will be calling them another?

When my husband worked he had that name on a patch on his shirt and he always got a big kick out of pointing to the name and saying "See? I'm a Dick." See what I mean about his sense of humor?

Something I Will Never Understand

Yes it is that dreadful time once again in the state of Pennsylvania: deer hunting season.
-Photo courtesy of Doug Thompson Blue Ridge Muse

How can anyone on God's green earth take up a shotgun or a rifle and aim it at something this beautiful. Granted, this is a newly-born fawn, but they don't get any uglier as they get old enough to be "hunted" by humans who have no need to shoot them in the first place.

Yes, I grew up in a hunting family. My father was an avid hunter of deer, pheasants, rabbits etc. Add to that my brother, his one son and his son too.

I always hated what my Dad did. You see, I am an animal lover. I will protect an animal before a human. And I will make no excuses for my behavior. (Well, I guess it depends on who the human is.)

Why do people think they can just take up a gun and kill a defenseless animal? Where the hell did they ever get that "right"? To me it is one of the most immoral things anyone can do.

Yes, I have eaten venison, pheasant and rabbit...but when I was young I didn't know any better. And for the most part, sometimes that was all the food there was at that time. There were five of us in our family and we had to be fed somehow or other. But in today's world that no longer needs to be done. Granted, I guess there are a few out there that "need" to feed their families and hunting animals is the only way they know how to accomplish that.

No, that still is no excuse in my book. And I am not letting anyone off the hook. There is absolutely no reason for anyone to have to feed their family that way. Hunting animals, to me, is barbaric. It is something this world no longer needs. Not with a supermarket on every corner.

It's the idiots that do it for "sport" or for the "fun of it" that really tick me off. Great White Hunter my foot. Here's my foot...bend over.

The Day After

My Thanksgiving was nice. They usually are. But, for the first time in a long time, I did not have to cook. I wasn't planning on it either. We were going to go out to eat. But my brother-in-law called the day before and invited us. Yippee! I was so glad. We had a good time and of course the food was excellent.

I didn't eat too much either. I'm not one to stuff myself. No, my problem is what I eat, not how much I eat. And since I no longer work and am around food all day it has become quite a huge problem for me. Needless to say, something has to be done and it has to start with me. No one else can do it for me. Nope, I must take this journey alone. Like all the journeys before this one. I have been weight-conscious all my life and, frankly, I am sick and tired ot it. But once again I must find my way and watch what I eat. Well, not watch it exactly...I must be more conscious of what I eat. There, that's better.

So if I seem a little crabby or cranky in my writings, just ignore me. I'll get over it. I usually do.

Thoughts About The Weekend

The weekend was fairly quiet. When I worked I lived just for the weekend. I hated Sunday evenings and I literally got sick to my stomach because it meant Monday morning was that much closer. The new manager made it a not so nice place to go anymore. I'm thankful I don't have to. (I will have a post some time in the near future revealing the trucking company we both worked at as all ties to them have been severed.)

My Sunday scripture was not posted because I was not able to access the internet most of the weekend, thanks to a cranky computer and dial-up. I am hoping to have a faster system by the end of the month. It means changing my email address and it will cost a little more, but I am willing to change both if it means less aggravation for me.

The weather has gotten much colder over the past week. That used to bother me but not anymore. If I don't want to go out in it, I don't go. I like those kind of options. On a short jaunt this morning I witnessed something that to me was weird. I'm sure you all know what forsythia bushes are. Sometime around April or maybe earlier, yellow blossoms sprout before the leaves come. They are a harbinger of Spring. At this time of the year, all you should see is the stalks with what look like buds that are in domancy mode. Today I saw a bunch of forsythia bushes blooming. Probably because of all the warm weather we had and it forced them to bloom.

My back hurt most of the weekend. I've been to the chiropractor three times. They said I was OK after the second visit but I requesterd one more visit just to be sure. I don't feel OK. My hip is back in place but the muscles burn from the manipulation. I had my last adjustment this morning. Until the next time it happens. It's nice that my neighbor is the chiropractor. He gives us breaks. Like free visits.

Yesterday I introduced the kittens to most of the house other than their sanctuary in the laundry/linen room. Why is it they always find the places and things they're not supposed to, and when you take them away from whatever it is, they go right back to it again? We are going to partition off the living room as that is the one place they can get in the most trouble. Other than that they were absolutely good little kittens.

I saved the best (or worst) for last: NASCAR. It's over and I hated to see it end but I hated the way it ended even more. I can't wait until next February when everyone starts with a clean slate. It should be real interesting too, what with all the guys that played musical rides and will be in different cars for different owners, not to mention Toyota adding to the mix. Also the Car of Tomorrow (CoT), something I'm not too happy with now. I suppose I will accept it as the season passes.

I was not happy to see that Johnson fella win the championship. As you know, I am NOT a Hendrick fan (Or Roush for that matter), and I am getting a tad sick and tired of hearing about how they lost so many people in that plane crash or how Hendrick had cancer. Geez, let it rest already. Dwell on the good things. There are so many of them. I have had JJ, Chad Knaus, Rick Hendrick, and all their cohorts shoved down my throat all racing season that I am afraid my Thanksgiving turkey will not fit. Perhaps I haven't barfed enough.

And last, but not least, I just want to tell you all how proud I am of Dale Earnhardt Jr and his phenomenal season. Maybe he didn't win the championship, maybe he only won one race all season, but he really stepped up to the plate and did his part as best he could. I heard him say once that he didn't want to be the reason for the whole team faltering. He wanted everyone to know that he did his best and then some. And I think he did. One can only hope that next season they will be better than they were this season. No matter what he does, he is a winner in my book and no one can ever take that away from me.

I'm OK...

All is well in my part of the world. Just a few little bumps in the road; mainly a very uncooperative computer.

Most of the kinks are ironed out and should be back to normal by this afternoon.

Saying Goodbye to the '06 NASCAR Season

Before I give my few thoughts on the final chapter of the NASCAR season, here is a photo of my two babies putting their heads together trying to figure out what kind of trouble they can get into. This is one of the first photos I took of them. I haven't gotten around to downloading the second set yet.


When I post this it will be Friday. Qualifying day. I have always looked forward to qualifications. I always hoped Junior would do well. Not until the latter part of the season has he done well. Prior to that he just frustrated the hell out of me.

When the Chase first got underway and Jimmie Johnson was in the dumper I was a happy camper. I thought, no way is he going to dig out of that hole. Yeah, right. Look where he is now. And if nothing huge happens to him, it looks like he will be the 2006 Champion. Gag.

I really thought it would be Junior's year. If he's lucky he will stay in the fifth position and maybe he'll even surprise me by moving up in the points. He has done really well these last few races; however so has everyone else. You can't get ahead of someone who's doing just a bit better than you are. There's that frustration again.

Last year Jack Roush had five of his drivers in the Chase. This year only two made it (Mark Martin and Matt Kenseth.) One is doing very well, the other one has fallen and can't get up. When Jack Roush had his little episode with his plane where he almost drowned, I uttered a prayer. When five of his drivers made the Chase, I had second thoughts. This year I was worried all his drivers would be in it again. I worried for nothing. But don't think I won't worry again next year.

The first four drivers all have a chance at winning the title. So they say. I don't believe them. As much as I don't want that Johnson fella to win it, he probably will. No longer the bridesmaid. All I can say is he is one lucky dude to come from so far behind and finish first (if he does). I hope I am wrong; you never know what can happen and stranger things have happened. All we can do is wait and see.

And when that checkered flag falls, the season will be over. I will watch the banquet on TV (which, by the way, gets worse every year) and then I will immediately start counting the days till the 2007 season starts. Just like all the other years. I hate the off season more than anything. I truly wish they would race year round. And I know Junior would agree with me.

Oh My Aching Back

It was a week ago today when I could barely muster the strength to get out of bed, and once I was I soon found out that I could not stand upright. I had to stoop over or throw my hips forward, clench my buttocks and walk like a duck. Not a pretty sight. And the pain was intolerable. A few days later, as the pain worsened, I started using a cane. In public, no less.
I have had ongoing back pain most of my life but it was just a pinch, not like the gynormous pain I had. I have also had numerous car accidents and as recent as four years ago, I had a slip and fall accident outside a public building where, once I tripped, I was propelled forward into a door that didn't move. I suffered a broken nose and probably aggravated my back situation further. There was a lawsuit and we settled out of court.

Fast forward to the past week, and as the days went by my situation just got worse. My husband suggested a visit to the chiropractor. Ours lives in the house next to us and his practice is two doors away on the opposite side of our house. We're considered country or rural where we are, and it is quite unusual to find a chiropractor in an area like ours, but he is doing a thriving business and lucky for us he's so close. I have been visiting a chiropractor on and off for over 15 years, but for some dumb reason I never thought to visit one now.

We were lucky to get in Monday. Where we go they utilize three steps: muscle simulation via machine, hand manipulation, and deep muscle massage. All three steps are done by different people, each trained for his or her specific job.

When I was finished, I could walk upright (my hip was out of whack by over an inch which is what caused my problem). However, now I was more sore in the lower back region than before.

That afternoon when I showered I left the hot water beat on my back, then I relaxed in the recliner with an ice pack. After a good night's rest I woke up to find very little pain and I was back to almost normal (for me). I thought to myself "This won't last, it's too good to be true." But I was wrong. It is lasting. I have another visit to the chiropractor tomorrow.

I just wish I had thought about it sooner instead of trying to walk around for a whole week with horrific pain. Some of us just never learn.

Good To The Last 'Dig'

If all Star*ucks stores have employees like the one at a nearby franchise then please, God, don't let them operate.

The woman I am talking about is exactly what she accused my husband of being: rude and ignorant. I, for one, would love to give her an attitude adjustment. But my husband won't let me. He doesn't want me to stoop to her level. Shoot, he takes all my fun away.

I honestly don't know what is wrong with the younger generation today. Some of them need to lighten up. They have no sense of humor and they act like they don't even know what it is.

And by the way, she isn't the only one he's encountered. I witnessed another one up close and personal. It happened at a restaurant recently where the cashier/hostess was a very young female. My husband made a humorous remark and she acted like he called her a vile name. I said "It looks like your sense of humor has been tested and it failed." There was another older female employee nearby who heard everything and she shook her head and said "Kids these days." I guess she was embarrassed for us.

So what is their problem and why do they think they are so damn superior?

Don't they realize that a good sense of humor will get them farther in this world than being so high and mighty?

(I am hoping this will be my last complaint about Star*ucks. Honest.)

So Happy To Be Here

That's me, Dakota Sioux, on the left alongside my big brother, Junior. Guess you don't have to think too hard where he got his name from, do you?

After three months, we finally found a set of parents we could adopt. Up until now we were in a foster home of a very nice lady. She showed us how to have good manners and to be very sociable.

Our new parents were looking for a girl kitten. We were brought to the shelter (from our foster house) to meet them late Monday afternoon. My brother was brought along because our foster mom hoped that we'd be adopted together.

To make a long story short, they fell in love with both of us and we went to our new home that same night. And guess what...I wasn't even the kitten they were interested in.

We are two of the happiest kittens you'll ever see. Here are a few pictures of us enjoying our new life in the laundry and linen room where we will stay until we are introduced to the rest of the house. We've been extra good in here, but we cannot guarantee our behavior when we explore all the nooks and crannies just waiting for us. They don't call us curious for nothing.

Here I am pausing from a drink of water.

And here's my brother enjoying the view.

Thank you for letting us introduce ourselves; I know for a fact that our new mom will be snapping pictures left and right and we will be appearing here quite often. We just hope that you don't get too tired of seeing us.

A Day In The Country

Smack dab in the middle of almost nowhere is a huge group of all kinds of stores with street lights and sidewalks and, yes, actual streets that the cars drive on. I have never seen a place like it.
L L Bean is one of my favorite stores but I was a little disappointed when I walked in noticing that it is geared toward biking, kayaking, and fishing. Very few clothes. But, hey, at least it's here now in Pennsylvania and that's something.

Ahhhhh...another one of my favorite stores: Barnes & Noble. I'm an avid reader and will read most anything just for the sake of reading. I've always been that way and will never change, unless I go blind. Perish the thought.

This is the town square. It wasn't quite finished yet. I am hoping it is by the time we go back probably sometime next week. I want to visit when it's dark because they have little white lights in all the trees lining the streets.

This is a view looking toward the mountain that this little town of shops is nestled against. There are many side streets like this one. At the end of the "town" is a huge movie theater complex that was still being worked on when we were there.

Of course our first order of business was coffee. We parked near this place but we will never, ever step foot in a Starbucks. Yes, it was one of their employees that had no sense of humor and said my husband was rude and ignorant when she called Starbucks' corporate headquarters and cost my husband his job.

Instead we got our coffee at the Red Robin.

This way of shopping is a new concept for our area. It's as if they took a whole town and just dropped it in the middle of Podunk USA. Just this one tiny little town sitting all by itself minding its own business. Almost like the days of old when you walked down Main Street in the larger cities and window shopped. But this place is so much more upscale.

Of course we will be going back. I can't wait as a matter of fact. But one store I also won't be shopping and that is Lucky Brand Jeans. We ambled on in suspecting absolutely nothing. My husband was looking at the jeans. I was looking at the price tags. $128 for a pair of jeans, what are you, nuts? We quietly left. Who the hell in their right mind pays $128 or more for a pair of jeans that look like they came from granny's ragbag?

Busy Busy Busy

Before my husband stopped working, I pretty much had the day to myself to do whatever I wanted. There was no one looking over my shoulder telling me what to do. I did what I wanted when I wanted and that meant I spent a lot of time on this computer.

I had a routine: I would walk on my treadmill when The Price Is Right was on. After that show was over was when I took my shower and shampooed my hair. And then I was ready to worship my 19" computer screen. Most of the time I would then be back on again around 11 pm every night.

Well, since D is home now it is a much different situation. I don't have the time to do what I used to. We don't stay home much or we are outside working in the yard. And our lives are about to be much more fuller because we are going to be a adopting a kitten. We have an appointment to look at one later today. All I have seen is a picture of her. She is three months old. Oh, and she has a brother. The lady that has them in her foster home would like if both were adopted together. I have to think long and hard on that one.

After having rabbits in the house for so long we felt it is time for a change. I have been gathering things for quite some time so that once we have the kitten here we don't have to rush out and buy anything for it, except toys and other things to spoil her/them with.

Why a kitten? All year we have had strays outside that have come and gone. We fed them and made sure they had fresh water. There were a couple of new litters and we watched them grow from tiny things to little dynamos on four legs. I took many photos of all of them. But there was one thing missing: we couldn't hold them and pet them and listen to them purr. And after we lost our last rabbit, once my grieving was a distant memory, I decided that I would eventually adopt a kitten. That time is now and I am very excited.

Whether we take just the female, or whether we take her brother too, once we have made up our mind you can bet there will be a lot of photos here with writings about their antics. She will stay in the house and she will be loved beyond belief. Maybe her brother too. We'll see...

Another One Bit The Dust

Well, well, well...

Another person from our former workplace is gone. One of the salesmen was fired on Monday after giving more than 13 years to the company.

Why? We don't know for sure because they never say why. All they ever say is they're gone, and you learn not to ask any questions.

My husband and I are thinking maybe it was because he told the manager lies about customers saying nasty things about D and his deliveries etc. We know he lodged false complaints to the manager about D only to make himself look good.

Maybe by D enlightening some of his customers recently about the truth made one or more call the trucking company's corporate headquarters. I do know that some of them were quite irate hearing some of the lies the salesman told the terminal manager.

...and out of the darkness came the light.

Bingo! No more salesman!

He was one of those that talked oh so nice to your face but would wreak havoc when you walked away. We thought he was our friend. But little by little the facade peeled away only to reveal what he really was: two-faced.

I have also heard that he failed to meet certain quotas and that was part of his demise. Maybe D had nothing to do with his being fired. Maybe. We'll never know for sure. But we'd like to think that he helped.

So chalk another one up for us: three down, four to go.

Boyertown Bears

Remember the day we took our truck in for service and we also had them redo the leather interior and the exterior with a special coating? Well, after we left the dealership with our trusty Enterprise Rental car (minivan), we decided to drive quite some distance to a TSC store for a spare wheel and tire for our trailer.

To get from point A to point B we had to drive through Boyertown. All along their main street they have these bears in front of various businesses. They are painted to match the businesses which I thought was kind of neat. I don't remember what the businesses were and I know I should have written them down so that I could match them up with the photos. But nobody's perfect you know.

I got a kick out of the fourth one. Abe Lincoln. The building it was in front of was a former elementary school and above the doors it reads Lincoln School so that was the tie-in there.

There were many more than these and I had already asked my husband to turn around at one point so I could photograph them, so I didn't push my luck to get all of them.

Before they got to where they are today, they were delivered to a large building by my husband when he worked for that trucking company. He only delivered a portion of them and someone else delivered the remainder. They don't weigh much and they all started out plain white.

They won't stay where they are forever and we don't know what will happen to them when it is time for them to leave. Rest assured they will not be destroyed. There is a buyer for everything these days.

BOO!

Finding Fall Foliage

We decided that it was time to take a drive in the countryside to see the fall foliage. The end of October in our area is a suggested time. However, it helps if the sun is out, as that usually enhances the colors of the trees. Our day was drab, dreary and threatening rain. It was also chilly and quite windy. Not my type of day, but we were not going to be put off by the bad weather. The first three photos were taken at Green Lane Park which is part of the Philadelphia Reservoir. It is located in Perkiomenville which is quite some distance from Philadelphia.

Green Lane Park is actually the start of the Perkiomen Trail which goes all the way south to Oaks. The trail is 20 miles and it can be walked if anyone cares to do that. Not me. I will stick to my treadmill.

This photo was taken from a bridge. In person it is quite spectacular, and I am sure it is even nicer when the sun is shining.

This one was taken from the same bridge. If you enlarge it, you can see a swan being protected by a flock of Canada geese.

This mountain shot was taken in Vera Cruz. Pennsylvania, not Mexico. I wish.

This is the same mountain range. I especially liked this farm scene but I can't say why. It just kind of caught my eye for some reason.

We spent the entire day just driving around and occasionally we would stop if something intrigued us.
At one point we visited a new Walmart store. Alongside of it is Blommer Chocolate. They are noted for their chocolate candy and especially for their cocoa. Let me tell you, the aroma drifting through the air was absolutely marvelous. So much so, that I had to go inside Wally World to get something chocolate. I settled for a box of low carb bars made by SlimFast.

All in all we had a good time but I would have enjoyed the day much more had the sun been shining. Oh well, we can't have everything.

Guilt

There are many times where I feel very vulnerable to life and living. Albeit, those times are very short, only seconds sometimes, but enough to make me feel so very tiny in this huge universe.

For the most part I am currently (and have been since my job 'left' me 15 months ago), very protected. I have my husband to thank for that. He's doing his best to make sure that I am safe. And because of that, there are many times when I have huge guilt feelings.

It was long thought that I would be the one who would continue working long after he retired. He is four years older than me, and he tried to stretch it out and work as long as he could. It sure doesn't pay to plan things.

I wish to take this time to thank (not!) our former employer for being so very cruel toward us after 13 years of working in the office for me and 11 years driving truck for him. Yes, I know it's bad news to dis an employer but, hey, thanks to them we no longer work there. So as far as we are concerned, they can take a flying leap.

It's just a shame we weren't allowed to leave with our dignity intact. But, due to the unforeseen circumstances, we have been forced to do otherwise. Did I say that that bothered me, about the dignity? It doesn't. Am I still bitter? No. But I do wish they would be a little more discreet in the way they treat older folks.

And, as I always say: What goes around comes around.

I heard they recently lost a major account as a core carrier. That means they were the number one carrier for that account. For who you ask? Think Tony Stewart's sponsor. Or think of Lowe's biggest competitor. Yeah, that's the one.

Vengeance? No, it's called retribution...and it is one sweet feeling.

What A Fiasco

A few months ago my husband took his bike to the local driver license testing center so that he could take the tests necessary to be able to continue driving. When he got there he was told he must make an appointment giving them the specific day and they would then assign the time.

He was not allowed to take any tests (paper or driving) and was turned away. What a waste of one's time. About 7 years ago for some odd reason we had decided to let his motorcycle license lapse. I think it was because at that time we thought he would never ride one again.

Beginning in January of this year, PennDot made some new rules. So what else is new. It used to be that you could just keep renewing your permit each year. No so anymore. Now you have to take the test on a computer before you do anything else.

Well that's OK if the computers work. Some of them are so old and inefficient that they mess the people up that are taking the test and before you know it you have flunked. But try and tell that to those people that work there. They don't want to hear it. Probably because they hear it so often they have become immune to it.

Well, eventually he passed his computer test. His next step now is to call Harrisburg and make an appointment. How assinine is that? You cannot access any of the state licensing centers via telephone. There are no listings. They receive no incoming calls. I don't even know if they have any type of telephone system either.

Why is it the average person is at their mercy? It's very frustrating to not be able to have access to a service that is provided for us by the state. It's kind of like banging your head against a wall and there's no wall there. If that makes any sense.

So his next step is to call and schedule that appointment. Meanwhile he is not allowed to have any passengers on the bike with him and he must keep his riding to the daylight hours. Forget the fact that he has been riding bike since he was in his teens. Hello?

Dagnabbit

This is what happens when you combine a glass-top table and a freak gust of wind.

The umbrella was in a sand-filled stand but it wasn't open at the time. If you make the photo larger, you can see the poor umbrella under all that shattered glass.

I'm thinking the wind got under the table and lifted it because it pulled the umbrella right out of the stand.

I was standing in the family room looking out onto the deck when I saw it happen. It was like my feet were planted in cement. There was nothing I could do, it happened that fast.

So now we have four chairs and no table. We never brought the chairs out of the basement because we didn't want the cats' claws ripping the cushions.

I guess we'll be looking for a table next spring. It's always something.

Whaaaaaaaaaaaa

My beloved Mets were done in by that other team. I apologize to all you Cards fans out there for what I am about to say.

There are two Cardinals players that stand out, not for the way they play ball, but for the way they look. One has a severe tongue problem (Belliard) and one looks like a girl trying to be a guy (Molina).

I know I'm far from perfect, but those two made me think I was watching a freak show. And it didn't help that they beat my team.

Needless to say, I will not be watching The World Series. Good God, I don't want to see either one of them ever again. Creepy.

A Day At The Farms

This past Sunday we embarked on something I haven't done since my daughter was a wee child. Our county had what is called an Open Gate Farm Tour. All types of farms open their gates to the public. Most had free refreshments and some gave visitors items associated with their farm. At one place we received a dozen eggs free.

Our first visit was to a fruit and vegetable stand right up the street from our house, and yet we have never stopped off when we have so often passed by. They have a few animals behind the stand like this little fellow. His mommy was nearby.

They also have a few Texas longhorns and here are two of them:

Next was Gress Mountain Ranch where they use tame rescued animals to use as counseling and therapy for children, teens, and adults. I never knew it existed and they, too, are in our backyard.

From there we went to Heidel Hollow Farm where we got the free eggs. This is a place my husband was familiar with as he used to deliver fertilizer to them years ago.

My favorite place was Holben Valley Farm. They have around 50 head of Black Angus and a few Limousine cattle. The animals are pasture-raised with no antibiotics or growth hormones added to their feed. They sell their beef to the public so I think we will be going back for some. It is so much better than that stuff they call meat in the supermarkets. Here is a picture of the young ones hamming it up. They are kept separate from the adults to insure that they get fed well.

Our last stop was Skyview Acres which absolutely blew me away. We went up a long dirt road and at the end of the road was a huge stone home. It was just gorgeous. I don't know why I didn't take a picture of it, and you can't see it from the road. ( Blogger only allows me to post five pictures at a time so it wouldn't matter.)

The pastures are surrounded by vinyl fencing (nothing shabby there). There is an on-site museum that houses antique carriages, coaches and hearses, all horse-drawn. Six Friesian horses are housed alongside the museum. Up until then, I had never heard of Friesian horses, and I thought I knew everything there was to know about horses. They originated in Holland. The tails and manes of the older ones reach the ground and they are never cut. This picture does not do them justice. They are black (no other color is acceptable, not even a bit of white) and are absolutely gorgeous.

This farm is in the business of renting out the horses along with whatever it is you want pulled by them. (There are two horses in this picture)

This is a view of the countryside from the pasture. The house and the museum were to the left. To the right just beyond that portion of the pasture was a wooded area. Skyview is certainly the best name they could have come up with, as it was breathtaking.

We had a good time and the best part was getting to see our neighboring farms and their contribution to society. I am looking forward to next year!