Oh Please, Give Me A Break Already

Warning: It's raining, it's damp inside and outside, and I am in a foul mood)

I'm not wasting my time or blog space by writing about who or what car manufacturer won the race at Talladega yesterday. All I care about is one driver who finished 10th and kept his 3rd place standing in the points, even gaining a few over last week.

Now, let's move on to the anticipation of the race in Richmond this weekend. The Nationwide race will be held Friday night; the Cup race, Saturday night. I love night racing. I was raised on it; however, it leaves a huge void for me the following Sunday. If I don't watch a race on Sunday it seems like something is missing. It's not that I don't have plenty to do to fill that void, it's just that I'd rather spend Sundays curled up watching the race.

On another note...I am getting so tired of fans and the media bringing up the fact that Junior hasn't won a race in two years. As a matter of fact, it was at Richmond where he won his last race. I didn't hear anyone talk about Talladega being his 300th start either. To me, that's more important than not winning but to the media it's not newsworthy enough I suppose. Granted, if Dale were, say, around 20th in the points, then throwing around the fact he hasn't won in two years would make sense. Although it would still piss me off if they kept saying it.

Let's be honest here, folks, the boy is doing great. (Oh, don't get your panties/shorts all in a bunch because I just called him a boy ~ I'm much older than he is, so I have the right to do so.)

I also would like to remind some people that Matt Kenseth won his NASCAR Championship without having won a single race that year! It can be done, so please LET IT BE! When the timing is right and all the planets are in proper alignment, Ralph Dale Earnhardt, Jr., will win. And once he gets started I will sit back, prop my feet up, put my hands behind my head and say to those that insist on rehashing his so-called losing streak week after week, He's only just begun, so look out world. Let the good times roll!
And now that I feel so much better that I got all that off my chest, it's at least a little warmer in here. But still raining outside.

Why I No Longer Watch American Idol

I have been a long time viewer of American Idol. I started watching at the end of the first season. I didn't want Kelly Clarkson to win; I had hoped Justin Guarini would have won. Had he won, I highly doubt all the problems he had since then would have happened. And then there was the time that I had hoped Clay Aiken won, and we got stuck with Ruben Studdard. Anybody heard from him lately?

Moving on, I was elated when Fantasia won, as she was the only one I have ever voted for before or since. Taylor Hicks? American Idol? Hardly. No one seems to know where he is either. And when Chris Daughtry left long before winning, well I thought that was ridiculous. All his voters must have been out to lunch. He has gone on to make a name for himself. He should have won it that year. And last year's Jordin Sparks did nothing for me as a singer either.

So let's fast forward to this year. When I first laid eyes on Michael Johns, I thought to myself Wow! That's some specimen. He had the looks and he could sing. He is from Australia. I like Australian men, especially their accents (and a few other things too). He is 29 and has been in the United States since he was 18. Feast your eyes on this awhile:

So I decided that I would follow him as each week went by. And he was always in the top, never in the bottom three. So, when I fully expected one of three other people to be sent packing, I never thought it would be Michael. But it was Michael. I was stunned. And I have since found out that a lot of other people were just as stunned. They say the audience went silent, as if they were waiting for the punch line. But it never came. I didn't notice the silence because I felt like I had been gut-punched. I still do. What really ticked me off was the fact that during last year's "Idol Gives Back" week, AI went through the motions of someone going home, but they decided no one would because it wouldn't be right when they were trying to "give back." But this year that went right out the window. Double gut-punch.

The way Ryan Seacrest handled the situation didn't help. He was downright obnoxious in his delivery of the result. He supposedly has apologized since (to the public but not to Michael). Not good enough for me. It doesn't bring Michael back. Ryan's excuse was he is told by the producers to make the bottom three believe they are staying and then send one packing.

And as far as I am concerned, it is my belief that those three so-called judges know how to manipulate the voting public. Just by their reactions, their actions, and the way they talk...tells me that they sway voters. I don't give any of them credit as a judge; they are entertainers and they just want to be heard. It's an ego thing. AI needs to think of a different way to handle the voting, because what we have now leaves much to be desired.

I didn't watch the show Tuesday or Wednesday last week and I won't be watching it for the remainder of this season. When I vowed not to watch it this year, I meant it. I...will...not...watch...American...Idol...anymore. Period.

I can only hope Michael Johns will go on to bigger and better things. I will be first in line when his CD comes out. And it can't be too soon to suit me.

Now, about that David Archuleta that everyone is so hot to trot over...he is a ringer and will probably win the title. I remember when he won the title of Junior Singers on Star Search back in 2003 when he was all of twelve years old. I didn't like him then, either. Yeah, I know...sour grapes.

Congratulations Danica Patrick

I've followed her career since day one, and every time I watched her race I'd think maybe today's the day she'll finally win one. Well, it finally happened. She became the first woman in history to win an IndyCar series race, when she took the checkered flag in the Indy Japan 300 at the Twin Ring Motegi oval in her 50th start.

She is the teammate of my other favorite driver, Marco Andretti, and now she will go on to win many, many more races. Still waiting on Marco though to win his first one. He almost won the Indy 500 (was it two years ago?) when that dreadful Sam Hornish Jr. stole it away from him on the last lap just before coming to the checkered flag.

Enjoy this win Danica. Just remember, it won't be the last. You go, girl!

Unbelievable!

So here I sit on a Saturday afternoon without a weekend of NASCAR. Oh there will be racing Sunday, but it's only the Nationwide series in Mexico. I will be watching because Junior's #88 Navy car driven by Brad Keselowski will be competing.

The unbelievable part of my blog for today? I would never have thought that at this time in my life that I would see 86 deg. on April 19th and gas that cost $3.40 per gallon. $60.00 for 17.5 freakin' gallons. Pure highway robbery.

I try to combat high prices elsewhere, so I went to the post office and bought a bunch of those Forever stamps. The price of stamps will be going up a penny on May 12th, I believe. But I can use my Forever stamp and not have to add any more stamps to whatever I'm mailing. As a matter of fact, the price of stamps can go up ten times, and my Forever stamp will be enough to mail whatever I have. (Regular mail, that is.)

I don't use that many stamps but I think I will be getting more of those Forever stamps. I saved a whopping forty cents today by buying them. Gosh, if I bought enough over time, think of the savings. No matter whether I use them in my lifetime, it's the savings that counts, right?

What? Oh, excuse me...they caught me red-handed typing away and I have to go back to my "other home."

Whew! Glad That's Over with

Actually the tax man didn't get one red cent from us this year. And that's a first. We are getting everything back that was withheld over the year. It's not exactly a refund per se. We are just getting back what we shouldn't have paid in the first place. Too bad we can't charge them interest. It's their fault, not ours. Oh well, live and learn. I e-filed this past Sunday, two days ahead of schedule.

Actually I had our taxes all figured out months ago. But I can't break my record and get them done early now, can I? That's how I always felt other years only because we always had to pay in. So you would think if we are getting money back this year that I would want to get them done early and out of the way. Nope. Not my style. Once a procrastinator always a procrastinator. And I don't make any excuses for being one either. I sort of like that title. And believe me, it fits me well. And I wear it well. And I'm damn proud of it.

And on top of all this we get a stimulus rebate from the government. That's a joke, really. But, hey, if it's free, it's for me and I'll take all the money I can get when they're giving it away.

Now I can sit back and relax...till next year when the nasty taxman comes a knockin' once again. I hope y'all had an easier time of it than I did. Well, that's a lie too because I did have an easy time of it. So much so I can hardly wait till next year. *cough* *cough*

Now That's What I Call A Race

That's what I like to see in any given race that Junior is in: either the National Guard car or the Amp Energy car in the lead. This shot is at the very beginning of Saturday night's Phoenix race. He went on to lead 87 laps during the race, but not the most important one: the last lap. His teammate, Jimmie Johnson, won and I was glad. Yeah, bet you never thought you'd read that here. Well, a teammate is a teammate, no matter who they are. With Johnson winning, maybe the press and the media will lay off Hendrick Motorsports about not being where they should be. It took a while, but they are catching up. All four drivers finished in the top 13 spots.

Seeing Mark Martin in that #8 Army car leading the race with his teammate, Martin Truex Jr, aggravated the sh*t out of me. Tremendously. I so hoped the 8 car would blow its engine. Once Truex dropped back and wasn't a threat any longer, I moved onto other things to concentrate on. Like my voodoo doll and Mark Martin.

I thought for sure that this was Junior's race to win, and I was wrong again. But I must say it was one heckuva race for a change. Very exciting compared to the first seven races...well, Martinsville was a good one too.

Watching Junior weave in and out of traffic on those re-starts with heavy infestations of lapped cars had my adrenalin pumping like an oil well. My heart was in my throat so often, I could feel it touching my tongue. Nice visual, huh?

That kid can drive. No doubt about it. I wish they would follow only his car for one race so the non-Junior people could see what he can do with a race car. He is a sight to behold when everything is working 100%. And after that first adjustment early on, it was right there.

He finished 7th in the race and moved up one spot in the points standings from fourth to third and is now only six points out of second place. Way to go Junior. So you didn't win the race, don't hang your head. Raise it high and know that you are doing exactly what you have to be doing at this point in time: consistency racing. That will keep you in the top five in points. It's all about being in the Chase after the 26th race of the season.

And for those who are so very hard on Tony Eury Jr., Dale's crew chief, he made all the right calls and earned an A+...not that he doesn't always. Some people just have nothing better to do than to dis someone they don't like.

If I heard correctly, I believe the upcoming Talladega race will be Junior's 300th start. That little tidbit is floating around in my tiny brain for some reason. Then again maybe I dreamed it. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Sshhh...Genius At Work

Be vewy vewy quiet...

The tax lady is hard at work and she needs everyone to refrain from any kind of noise.

Thank you kindly.

I Survived...Barely

So I went to get blood drawn yesterday for my doctor who has been pestering me to do so for way over a year now. As you recall, it is not something I enjoy doing. But I did it and it's over with and now I can go on about my business without that hacking away at my brain all the time.

The nurse seemed like a friendly sort as she invited me into her lair. I sat down on what looked like a torture chair and waited till she came back. They always seem to have some place they have to go once they acknowledge you.

She did come back and set about her job. The rubber tourniquet was put on my left arm and the needle was inserted. And then she tells me it's a small vein. That should have been my first clue to run out of there. But I had my big girl pants on so I stayed. She told me it was a very slow drip because the vein was so tiny and she also had to use the pediatric vials ~ the ones the lab people don't like. Meanwhile that damn needle is still stuck in my arm and I am still looking to my right. It took like forever.

Finally she ripped the tourniquet off, with the needle still in, and I feel this P.I.N.C.H.I.N.G. sensation like no other. Holy hell! That mother hurt. I asked her what happened (since I have never had that sensation before from a needle) and she said it was a collapsed vein. All I could do was ask her why, since I have never experienced a collapsed vein in my entire lifetime. She told me it could be due to a high stress level. Me, stressed? Well, let's think about that a bit...

I had to get up at the crack of dawn, I was not allowed to eat or drink anything (other than water, which is not even on my diet), the traffic was heavy and we were running late for my husband's appointment, his therapy session went way over the usual time while I am starving, SO WHY SHOULD MY STRESS LEVEL BE HIGH?

I didn't believe that for one minute. No, I blamed it on her ineptitude. And after all that she then had the nerve to ask me for a urine sample. Like I can pee on demand. Oh yeah, that went over big. She's just lucky I was able to perform that little deed. I set it on the counter and got the hell out of there before she wanted something else from me.

And as far as my doctor is concerned? He won't be getting any blood samples from me for a long time. I am very good at running away from those. He's just lucky I was in a good mood when I decided to get it done this time. There might not even be a next time if I have anything to do with it. Maybe.

Not My Favorite Thing To Do

By the time most of you read this, the dirty deed will have been done and I will be going about my normal business. My doctor has been wanting blood work done for quite some time now, and since I am on a statin med for high cholesterol, I figured this was as good a time as any to get it done so he quits his whining about it.

I will be getting it done at a diagnostic center (sounds like I'm getting it done at a garage - maybe I should ask for an oil change while I'm at it), in the hospital. And this is what I will see when the nurse comes at me with her ginormous needle:



I absolutely detest needles of any kind. But there are some things in life that we must put up with in order to make other people happy. I could do without any of this needle business, and I am only doing it because I was asked almost a year ago. Yup, this procrastinator held off as long as she could.

Since the hospital is right next door to where my husband is currently undergoing therapy, we are making things easier by combining both. Because I must fast 12 hours prior, the appointment for my husband had to be made as early as possible so I don't end up wanting to kill everyone in sight due to hunger pangs. I didn't have to make an appointment because where I am going is a walk-in site, no appointment necessary. I will be meeting Dracula right after the therapy session, which should be around 9 am.

I guess I really don't mind needles as long as I don't have to look at them while they are doing their dirty work. I am just glad I have come this far in facing my fear of them. There used to be a time when I had to be tricked if anyone wanted to jab me with a needle. And then they had to make sure they could outrun me.

What Happened?

Although I am projecting myself to look happy through this cartoon, I am not. Well...maybe I'm a little happy. OK, make that a lot happy. I'm happy that Dale Jr. is still 4th in the points, but I am a tad upset that he didn't at least finish in the top 5. I was holding out for a win since he got both his first Busch and Cup wins at Texas, and that made me all sentimental and stuff leading up to this race. But it just wasn't meant to be. And even though he finished 12th and a lap down, all he lost was 18 points from last week. I can handle that.

I guess it could have been worse...after all, look what happened to Jeff Gordon. Ouch. Other years that would have made me quite happy to see Gordon exit a race. But now that he is Dale's teammate and also he is such a wonderful daddy, it darn near broke my heart to see that. He finished last in 43rd position, only the second time for that to occur in his career.

I spoke to the TV today. No kidding, I really did. When Martin Truex Jr's car starting acting weird and the announcers were saying the engine wouldn't last till the end, I got all excited yelling Blow sucker, blow! And then when the engine did let go, I was all over that too, yelling How does it feel? in reference to all of the engines Dale lost last year driving for that same nasty woman that Truex now has to put up with. Don't get me wrong, I am far from anti-Truex...I just wish he had a different owner. But maybe now he will understand what Dale went through, as did all of his fans last year. And maybe Martin will think twice before re-signing with DEI at the end of this season.

The next race is in Phoenix and will be on at 8pm this Saturday. I thought that would leave me with nothing to do on Sunday, and then I remembered I haven't done my taxes yet. The federal ones anyway. Well, they are done, I just need to enter them via the software and zap the pesky little things off to federal land. And we don't have to pay in this year; we are getting a very nice refund. Four figures. Yeah, baby!

Look Who Grabbed The Pole @ Texas!

It turned out to be a very happy day for Dale Jr. and a not so happy day for rookie Michael McDowell. Thank God for those S.A.F.E.R. barriers. He was able to walk away uninjured.

Mystery Building

For over a year as we drove around our community, we could see a building far off in the distance from where we were anytime we headed north of our house. Our normal routes of travel don't usually go north, but every time we did we would see that building. And one of us would always bring up the subject of wondering what it is. It always stood out, high upon the hill, among the houses scattered all around it.

We kept saying one day. This past Saturday that one day finally arrived. We kept driving around all the back roads that we thought were near the structure. From the distance we could see it, the only thing we could make out was that it was tan in color. We could not ascertain the type of building it was.

As my husband drove around, I as usual had my nose stuck in a book. I heard him say excitedly there it is! I thought he said there he is and my first thought was that someone was playing cat and mouse with us and was now behind us. I came back to reality when I was told to look behind me in the distance, and indeed there it was. I used the telephoto lens for this:

Now the trick was to get there from where we were, which was a different hill. The area is nothing but hills and valleys and nothing is level. Before we knew it, we were looking right at it and by choosing the right road we finally came right up to its driveway. We had noticed flags flying from each of its three spires/towers. At first we thought it was a private home, as our area is known to have celebrities sprinkled among us and most of those homes/estates/manors/mansions are well hidden for the most part. This one stuck out like a sore thumb sitting high on top of the hill.

This is what we saw at the driveway at the front of the property, and on the huge sign nestled in very neat landscaping was its name and what it was used for. At the very bottom it read Hindu Temple. (It was at the right of this photo)

As we continued on our way, circling it almost entirely, I snapped two more photos:


And before we knew it, we were at our house. We had made a complete circle and had found that the Temple is closer to us than we originally thought. Almost in our back yard you might say. Had we gone backward we'd have found it much quicker. As far as I know, this is the only Hindu Temple in our Valley. There may be others; I just don't know about them. And if this one wasn't on a hill, I might not have known about it either.