Friday, June 27, 2008
Problem Solved
We are going shopping today for a home theater system to replace the one that died a few weeks ago. We never did figure out what happened to it. And I thought that by some small miracle it would come back to life, because every day since it left us I have been checking on it. No such luck. It has a one-disc DVD player that we never used.
I have one system in mind and I'm fairly sure we will end up buying it. It too has a DVD player but with a 5-disc changer. It also has a lot more amenities than the system that croaked so I know we will be using the DVD player this time around. When I bought that first system, I really didn't know what I was doing as it was all kind of new to me. I ended up having to buy a separate receiver. What did I know. I'm not electronically inclined.
I had bought it for my husband as a Christmas gift. It was a year before we took it out of the box and tried to hook it up. If you ever want to see something funny, come over to my house and watch two electronically challenged people trying to hook something of new technology up to an existing system. Bring lunch. We'll supply the entertainment.
Months later, after we gave up what we thought would be an easy job, our TV was giving us problems. So when the repairman came to fix it, we were able to talk him into connecting the surround sound system for us at no extra cost.
The new system is wireless. That alone makes it worth its price. And I want to thank Uncle Sam for giving me the money to buy it.
posted by Cheyenne at 12:45 AM comment(s) made:
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Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Put Out To Pasture Much Too Soon
This post was originally written shortly after I was helped out of my last job. Because I have absolutely nothing to write about, I went through some old possible posts and found this still in draft mode. This will be my last post on my last job, honest. I will publish it now before it gets lost again...
I wasn't ready for it ~ not yet ~ I just wanted a few more years. God knows it wasn't my idea, but I really needed them. Instead, those needed years were yanked right out from under me (much like the cow above).
How rude I thought. Guess they are making way for the 20-something crowd. You know, the ones that are only stopping by for a visit. You know the type...take the job because nothing else looks good at that moment in time, or maybe no one else offered something better. And then they work a few months eventually moving on using that job as a stepping stone, not caring what kind of destruction they caused before they left. (Ashley J?)
In my case, I wasn't replaced by a young one. No, instead I was replaced by a co-worker returning from an operation. She was someone who didn't have a job waiting for her when she got back into the fold, because her job was given to someone else while she was gone. But at that time they felt she was more important to keep around I suppose. Why? I'll never know because she was as useful as you-know-what on a bull.
And so they figured out a way to dump me so she could have my payroll job. I also audited bills, but that job was taken away from me and was completely scrapped. In other words, it was thrown into obliteration, and I was soon to follow.
As I now look back on those last few days of mine, I really don't feel that I could have done anything different than what I had done. I didn't try to save my job because that fate had already been decided, and there was absolutely nothing I could do to change it. Plus I did have my pride.
And so, seeing the handwriting on the wall, I began cleaning out my desk, cabinet, and other things days before the axe came down. And to this day, I still don't have closure on what happened and it looks like I never will. Worst of all, the person (male) that decided my fate worked there two years and then quit. Now that's rude.
To me that is the worst fate of all. Oh, not the loss of a good job, but the reason as to why I no longer have that good job.
I wasn't ready for it ~ not yet ~ I just wanted a few more years. God knows it wasn't my idea, but I really needed them. Instead, those needed years were yanked right out from under me (much like the cow above).
How rude I thought. Guess they are making way for the 20-something crowd. You know, the ones that are only stopping by for a visit. You know the type...take the job because nothing else looks good at that moment in time, or maybe no one else offered something better. And then they work a few months eventually moving on using that job as a stepping stone, not caring what kind of destruction they caused before they left. (Ashley J?)
In my case, I wasn't replaced by a young one. No, instead I was replaced by a co-worker returning from an operation. She was someone who didn't have a job waiting for her when she got back into the fold, because her job was given to someone else while she was gone. But at that time they felt she was more important to keep around I suppose. Why? I'll never know because she was as useful as you-know-what on a bull.
And so they figured out a way to dump me so she could have my payroll job. I also audited bills, but that job was taken away from me and was completely scrapped. In other words, it was thrown into obliteration, and I was soon to follow.
As I now look back on those last few days of mine, I really don't feel that I could have done anything different than what I had done. I didn't try to save my job because that fate had already been decided, and there was absolutely nothing I could do to change it. Plus I did have my pride.
And so, seeing the handwriting on the wall, I began cleaning out my desk, cabinet, and other things days before the axe came down. And to this day, I still don't have closure on what happened and it looks like I never will. Worst of all, the person (male) that decided my fate worked there two years and then quit. Now that's rude.
To me that is the worst fate of all. Oh, not the loss of a good job, but the reason as to why I no longer have that good job.
posted by Cheyenne at 12:08 AM comment(s) made:
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Saturday, June 21, 2008
Rest In Peace
Scott Kalitta
1962 ~ 2008
posted by Cheyenne at 7:21 PM comment(s) made:
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Thursday, June 19, 2008
And They're Off!
No, not to see the wizard...to a road course. Infineon Raceway to be exact. Located in Sonoma, California. Aka Sears Point Raceway. Ahhhh...Sonoma wine country. Somebody please put me in your pocket and take me along. I won't be any trouble, honest. Till I get near the wine, that is.
I'm not all that fond of road course racing, but I'll take my weekly NASCAR any way I can get it. Sonoma is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, and NASCAR has been there for the last 20 years.
Dale Jr. finished 13th last year, after qualifying 3rd. In 2003 and 2004, he finished 11th both times. We won't discuss here where he finished the other years. In his early racing career he never left it be unknown that he didn't like road courses. But as he learned how to 'handle' them, things changed. By 2004 he was confident enough to want to drive a Corvette in the Infinion Grand Prix, an American Le Mans Series race. During warm up the morning of the race, on July 18th, he had a wreck that spilled fuel causing fire to erupt inside the car. I don't remember how long he was in the fire till he realized what was happening (it seemed like an eternity to me), and was able to get himself out. It almost looks like he was in a daze or unconscious in the video.
I don't like posting these photos, but it is a grim reminder of what can happen.
I have watched that video numerous times and am still amazed at how he was able to get out and not be burned worse than what he was. He received second degree burns on his chin and the inside of his legs. It gives me goosebumps. I don't like to watch it too often, but I do like to be reminded of what could have happened had he not gotten out and that we are lucky he is still with us. And yes, I am a firm believer that he was not alone when he exited that burning inferno. You can tell by the way he came out of the window on his back facing toward heaven.
posted by Cheyenne at 12:05 AM comment(s) made:
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Monday, June 16, 2008
Hot Damn, He Won!
posted by Cheyenne at 12:10 AM comment(s) made:
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Thursday, June 12, 2008
Oh Geez, Now What?
A few nights ago, after four days of oppressive heat, we finally had a rain storm that cooled things off somewhat. I say somewhat because it's still hot, just not as humid. During that storm of lightning and thundering and pelting rain, our satellite went searching. That's no big deal, because I'm used to it and can usually occupy myself by picking up the current novel I am reading.
We also have a surround sound system hooked up. It has never given me a problem in the past 3 or so years that we have it. I bought the system and my husband did what he could to sort of set it up. But not that it was operable properly. He got the surround sound to work, but not like it is when you hear it in an electronics store. I guess you only attain that sound if you pour hundreds of dollars into it.
When we were having problems with our TV, I summoned our repairman, who came out to do what he had to so things were set right in this household once again. I am certainly not one to be without my TV. It's sacrilegious in my book not to have TV, even though it wasn't till I was 13 that my parents brought a TV into the house. Don't ask me why they waited so long because I don't know why.
Getting back to the repairman...while he was here I took it upon myself to ask him if he would kindly check the surround sound system and make sure everything was hooked up properly, and while he was at it would he please adjust everything too? He had no problem with that and went about his business. He then showed me how to use the remote control and left. We never got a bill for his extra work.
But somewhere along the line during that recent storm, something happened. For two days now I have been playing around both manually and with the remote and I still cannot get the sound to come back on, even though everything else is in order. Now, I'm not too stupid when it comes to these things, so it's not that I don't know what I'm doing. But for the life of me, I just cannot get that damn sound to work at all. And it's really frustrating at most.
And the sad thing is, my husband doesn't know jack sh*t when it comes to that stuff. So I am left on my own pretty much. I guess maybe I could do a better job if the manual were more explicit, but when it's printed in another country something gets lost in the translation. This manual isn't all that bad though, but what irks me more is that when the person that writes it thinks the person that's reading it knows exactly what they are talking about. Well, I don't get it.
So here I am, I have a surround sound system and yet I don't. What to do, what to do...
posted by Cheyenne at 3:58 PM comment(s) made:
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Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Hot Hot Hot
This cartoon pretty much sums it all up. Here in the Lehigh Valley, it is hotter than Hades. We hit 97F yesterday and right now it is only 95F. They were predicting the temperature to hit at least 100F today but it doesn't look that way. However, relief is in sight and we should have more bearable weather by tomorrow.
That's good, because I must get out and do some shopping and my husband needs to mow the grass. Since he purchased one of those zero turn mowers, he gets very excited to mow the grass these days. So he is chomping at the bit because I won't let him mow in this godawful heat.
I only go outside twice a day; once in the morning and again around 4:30 and that is to feed the cats and give them fresh water. This heat has been hanging around now since the end of last week. It is oppressive to say the least. When I open the door in the morning and step onto the porch it is like being hit in the face with a sopping wet towel. A very hot wet towel.
My two house cats are happier than you-know-what and snooze the afternoons away in our air-conditioned house. But my cats outside try to stay cool by sleeping under the deck. Every once in awhile we'll see one or two venture out from under there and they look so bedraggled from the heat. Poor little things. I am sure they, too, are looking forward to cooler weather. It ain't easy being out there wearing a fur coat.
We are in a heat advisory today yet. South of us, toward Philadelphia, it is supposedly hotter than it is here and they have more than just an advisory. Other than just this southeastern area of PA, I have no idea how extensive this heat is in other parts of the nation. Maybe I should check the TV for news. Nah...maybe not.
Maybe some of you can tell me how it is where you live and how you deal with it. 'K?
posted by Cheyenne at 3:43 PM comment(s) made:
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Monday, June 09, 2008
Ups And Downs
Another Pocono 500 is in the books. Dale Jr. made me dizzy today in that he was all over the field going as low as 29, I believe, and as high as second. He'd be up front, next thing I know he was at the back and that happened many times. I was hoping he would at least lead one lap for those precious five bonus points. No such luck.
A good solid fourth place finish sealed the deal. I couldn't watch the last laps after the final caution. I was too nervous. Up until the #18 M&Ms car spun out (was that done on purpose?), Junior was poised to possibly win his first race in more than two years.
I was able to follow his finish on NASCAR dot com's leaderboard. I like watching that because they calculate all the drivers' points at any given point in the race. And on that note, it was a good points day for Junior. He gained a huge amount and still sits solidly in third place.
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Hey, all you Kyle Busch fans...what happened to your boy? He's not so great now, is he? Maybe he should wear those fancy gold sunglasses during the race so he can see others around him...like Jamie McMurray.
This photo is after his first hit on Jamie. He later came back out only to hit the curb and cause a caution to come out. There are those that are questioning whether it was done on purpose to help other teammates. I really don't think so because I truly believe Kyle only does things for Kyle.
Knowing that he would probably finish dead last and take a big hit in the points, it seems as if at last something that major wiped the normally smug look off his face for once. Savor it, folks, it won't last long.
posted by Cheyenne at 12:28 AM comment(s) made:
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Saturday, June 07, 2008
Congratulations Brad!
Driving for Dale Earnhardt Jr. under the JR Motorsports banner, Brad Keselowski won his first career Nationwide Series race tonight. He finally got his coveted guitar, the trophy given to the winner of the Federated Auto Parts 300.
This is also a first win for Dale as an owner for the #88 US Navy Chevrolet. I'm sure he's as excited as Brad is. Junior couldn't be there as he is in Pocono for Sunday's race.
Brad was 5th with 29 laps to go and finally with six laps to go, he passed leader Clint Bowyer.
JR Gibbs' prima donna, Kyle Busch, finished 20th three laps down in his second part of the tri-fecta. No win Friday night in the truck race, no win tonight in the Nationwide race, and hopefully no win tomorrow in the Cup race. Karma, ya gotta love it! It's slowly creeping up on him just nipping at his heels. Soon it's going to take a huge bite out of his butt and maybe then, just maybe, the boy will be humbled enough to get his head out of the clouds.
And the new kid on the block at Gibbs? Joey Logano? He was caught up in a wreck that involved his teammate, Busch, and finished 31st.
posted by Cheyenne at 11:26 PM comment(s) made:
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Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Green With Envy?
Recently one of my readers questioned why Dale Jr. would drive a green car alluding to the fact that maybe that's why his luck isn't what it used to be. Obviously I don't believe that because driving a green car these days has nothing to do with what they believed back in the day.
I guess what really started the whole a green race car is bad luck was when one of them blew a tire and plowed into a crowd killing 11 people and injuring 10 others. Suffice it to say, I think those people were in the wrong place at the wrong time. That was back in September of 1911.
Then in 1920 Gaston Chevrolet, an Indy 500 champ, was killed while driving a green car. Gadzooks! Another green car. Wow.
Flash forward 42 years when the tide started to change somewhat. Jack Brabham, an F1 world champ, drove a green car and earned rookie of the year at the Indy 500 in 1962.
Two years later in 1964, Jim Clark took his green Lotus to second place and a year later he won the Indy 500 with that same green car.
And that brings us to NASCAR and green cars. Once sponsors became so prominent on the cars, it was only natural that those sponsors with green products ended up as green paint themes on the cars.
Harry Gant had the #33 Skoal Bandit, and he won four consecutive races back in September 1991. (I saw history being made back then on TV.)
Current drivers who also drove a green car during their career are Bobby LaBonte in the #18 Interstate Batteries. J. J. Yeley also drove that car.
And don't forget Sterling Marlin who drove the #14 Waste Management car.
And that brings us to Dale Earnhardt Jr. who currently drives the #88 Amp/National Guard car. Every Junior fan knows when he is driving the Amp car that it is green and white, and when it is the National Guard car it is blue. He has had three bad incidents on the track so far this year that took him out of contention. Two of those were accidents while driving the green car, one was while he was in the blue car. None of those accidents were his fault. Just another case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
So, for all intents and purposes, green is now politically correct.
Oh, and the peanuts thing? Who on earth would want to be eating unshelled peanuts while driving 200 miles an hour anyway? Or shelled for that matter.
posted by Cheyenne at 2:00 PM comment(s) made:
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Sunday, June 01, 2008
What The Heck?
A bad qualifying spot (25th) put Dale Jr. in a bad position as mid-pack is often where a lot of trouble occurs.
Once again, Denny Hamlin (I'm a professional Cup driver, move over) came barreling into the wreck area. His excuse? Today's cars don't slow down as fast as the others. Where does he find these lame excuses all the time? That boy needs some serious testing done on him before he hurts someone real bad.
NASCAR didn't throw the red flag in a timely manner and they didn't put Dale Jr.'s car on the wrecker in a timely manner. So what else is new? Because of that, when the red flag was lifted and repairs were made to his car, he was 10 laps down. Ten laps down! The way I understand it is that the cars with the most damage were removed first. Dale Jr. was one of the last to be removed. He couldn't move himself because his splitter was stuck. Had it not been for that he would have been able to join the rest of the cars riding around under caution, as he had minimal damage. And we can once again thank Hamlin for pushing Dale Jr. into the wall because up until he came along Jr. was fine.
The bad news is he finished 35th, thirteen laps down. The good news is he remains third in the points but the spread between him and first has grown considerably. I'm not happy with what happened today, but there's not much I can do about it either. And since the eventual winner of the race is someone I don't like to mention here, you'll just have to check the sports pages tomorrow.
posted by Cheyenne at 8:21 PM comment(s) made:
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